Number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold in China
China: Number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold was 5.10 million cars in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold in China, 2010–2025
Source: International Energy Agency. Global EV Outlook 2025. – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in cars.
Analysis
China recorded 5.10 million cars for number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold in 2025. That is the highest value across all 16 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.1% on the previous year and up 8,260.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold in China peaked at 5.10 million cars in 2025 and was at its lowest, 260 cars, in 2012.
China ranks 1st of 54 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold in China, year by year
| Year | cars | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 340 cars | — |
| 2011 | 320 cars | -5.9% |
| 2012 | 260 cars | -18.8% |
| 2013 | 730 cars | +180.8% |
| 2014 | 24,000 cars | +3187.7% |
| 2015 | 61,000 cars | +154.2% |
| 2016 | 79,000 cars | +29.5% |
| 2017 | 110,000 cars | +39.2% |
| 2018 | 270,000 cars | +145.5% |
| 2019 | 230,000 cars | -14.8% |
| 2020 | 220,000 cars | -4.3% |
| 2021 | 550,000 cars | +150.0% |
| 2022 | 1.50 million cars | +172.7% |
| 2023 | 2.70 million cars | +80.0% |
| 2024 | 4.90 million cars | +81.5% |
| 2025 | 5.10 million cars | +4.1% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 5.10 million cars is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15,000 cars, 340.0× the median. (11 countries reporting)
- China's 5.10 million cars is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 16,000 cars, 318.8× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | +3187.7% | 730 cars | 24,000 cars |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 77,565 cars | 260 cars | 270,000 cars | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.50 million cars | 220,000 cars | 5.10 million cars | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 2 United States 330,000 cars compare
- 3 Germany 310,000 cars compare
- 4 United Kingdom 230,000 cars compare
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold in China?
- Number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold in China was 5.10 million cars in 2025, according to International Energy Agency. Global EV Outlook 2025. – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 5.10 million cars in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 260 cars in 2012.
- How does China rank for number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold?
- China ranks 1st out of 54 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8,260.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from International Energy Agency. Global EV Outlook 2025. – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 16 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
New fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid sales each year.