The CAAM previously said that China's NEV sales are expected to reach 5 million units this year, up 42 percent year-on-year, with a market share expected to exceed 18 percent.

China's NEV sales could significantly exceed expectations this year, MIIT minister says-CnEVPost

China's new energy vehicle (NEV) sales this year are expected to meet and possibly significantly exceed the expected target, Xiao Yaqing, the minister of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), said today.

Xiao made the remarks in an interview with China Securities Journal on the first day of this year's two sessions, the annual meetings of China's top legislature and political advisory body. The event will run through March 11.

Sales of NEVs in China were very good in the first two months of the year, both more than doubling, Xiao noted.

Xiao did not specify what the expected target was, but previously the MIIT had been using data from the China Association of Automobile Makers (CAAM).

The CAAM said late last month that sales of cars in China are expected to reach 27.5 million units in 2022, up about 5 percent from a year earlier.

Of that total, 23 million passenger cars will be sold, up 7 percent from a year earlier. Commercial vehicles will be 4.5 million units, down 6 percent from a year earlier. NEVs will reach 5 million units, up 42 percent year-on-year, with a market share expected to exceed 18 percent.

China's carbon neutrality and carbon peak targets, smart car technology, and business model innovations will largely accelerate the popularity of NEVs, the CAAM said.

"According to preliminary industry consensus, China is likely to meet the national targets that NEV penetration will reach 20 percent and 40 percent by 2025 and 2030, respectively, ahead of schedule," the CAAM said.

In January, China's NEV sales were 431,000 units, up 135.8 percent year-on-year, but down 18.6 percent from December, data previously released by the CAAM showed.

The CAAM has not yet released February's NEV sales figures, which are likely to be released next week.

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