China's Auto Production and Sales Hit Three New Records in 2025

[Market Data] In 2025, China produced 34.531 million vehicles and sold 34.4 million vehicles, representing year-over-year increases of 10.4% and 9.4%, respectively—marking the 17th consecutive year as the world’s largest auto market.

Key Metrics: Three All-Time Highs Achieved

Production reached 34.531 million units, new energy vehicle (NEV) sales hit 16.49 million units, and exports totaled 7.098 million units, collectively setting three new records for China’s auto market in 2025. The NEV penetration rate reached 47.9% overall, surpassing 50.8% in the domestic passenger car segment—officially entering an era dominated by new energy vehicles.

Strategic Foundation: Dual Drivers of Policy and Products

Initiatives such as the “trade-in-for-new” program, the implementation of Level 3 autonomous driving, and the commitment to 6-month payment terms effectively stimulated market activity. Combined with automakers’ intensive product launches, actual sales exceeded the target set by the Stable Growth Plan by 2.1 million units.

Industry Outlook: Shift Toward Quality Competition in 2026

The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) forecasts that growth will slow to 1% in 2026 as the industry enters a high-level plateau phase, with competitive focus shifting from scale expansion to advancements in technology, service quality, and overseas market performance.