China hits 51% EV sales: tipping point for dominance
China crosses 51% EV share, setting the pace for a global shift
China hits 51% EV sales: tipping point for dominance
China's EVs now claim 51% of new-car sales, with BEVs at 31%. See how fierce competition, surging output and exports are positioning Chinese brands to lead.
2025-08-29T16:11:52+03:00
2025-08-29T16:11:52+03:00
2025-08-29T16:11:52+03:00
China has officially crossed a new threshold: electric vehicles now account for 51% of new-car sales. According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), the EV share has surpassed half of all registrations for five consecutive months. This milestone is widely seen as a point of no return—the stage when growth becomes irreversible and steers the market toward the full dominance of electric mobility.In 2024, about 17 million electric vehicles were built worldwide, and 12 million of them came from China, accounting for more than 70% of global output. Around 11 million were sold at home, with the rest shipped abroad.Sales of battery-electric cars are accelerating fastest. BEVs already command a 31% share of China’s passenger-car market. For comparison, Norway reached a similar phase in 2020, and in just four years EVs there climbed to 90% of sales. Industry observers suggest China could follow that path even faster.China’s market stands out not only for scale but for intensity. Dozens of brands vie for every buyer, launching ever more capable and attainable models. That pressure lifts quality benchmarks, nudges weaker players out, and primes the strongest for expansion into Europe and North America.Western marques, meanwhile, are running into headwinds. Even Tesla—the largest EV maker outside China—has been recording a drop in domestic sales in 2025. It is a warning sign: competition in China bites harder than in Western markets.By crossing the 51% line, China has cemented its status as the world’s pace-setter in the electric shift. The only question now is how soon local companies will set the rules on the global stage. If the current tempo holds, that moment may arrive sooner than many incumbents expect.
China EV market, 51% EV sales, BEVs 31% share, CAAM report, electric vehicle dominance, Chinese brands exports, Tesla decline China, global EV production, Europe expansion, tipping point
2025
Michael Powers
news
China crosses 51% EV share, setting the pace for a global shift
China's EVs now claim 51% of new-car sales, with BEVs at 31%. See how fierce competition, surging output and exports are positioning Chinese brands to lead.
Michael Powers, Editor
China has officially crossed a new threshold: electric vehicles now account for 51% of new-car sales. According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), the EV share has surpassed half of all registrations for five consecutive months. This milestone is widely seen as a point of no return—the stage when growth becomes irreversible and steers the market toward the full dominance of electric mobility.
In 2024, about 17 million electric vehicles were built worldwide, and 12 million of them came from China, accounting for more than 70% of global output. Around 11 million were sold at home, with the rest shipped abroad.
Sales of battery-electric cars are accelerating fastest. BEVs already command a 31% share of China’s passenger-car market. For comparison, Norway reached a similar phase in 2020, and in just four years EVs there climbed to 90% of sales. Industry observers suggest China could follow that path even faster.
China’s market stands out not only for scale but for intensity. Dozens of brands vie for every buyer, launching ever more capable and attainable models. That pressure lifts quality benchmarks, nudges weaker players out, and primes the strongest for expansion into Europe and North America.
Western marques, meanwhile, are running into headwinds. Even Tesla—the largest EV maker outside China—has been recording a drop in domestic sales in 2025. It is a warning sign: competition in China bites harder than in Western markets.
By crossing the 51% line, China has cemented its status as the world’s pace-setter in the electric shift. The only question now is how soon local companies will set the rules on the global stage. If the current tempo holds, that moment may arrive sooner than many incumbents expect.
