NEV penetration at retail in China was 33.3 percent in May, up 6.7 percentage points from 26.6 percent a year earlier and up from 32.3 percent in April.

Retail sales of new energy passenger vehicles (passenger NEVs) in China were 580,000 units in May, up 60.9 percent year-on-year and up 10.5 percent from April, according to data released today by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).

This is higher than the preliminary figure of 557,000 units announced by the CPCA on June 7, and in line with its estimate released on May 23.

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 388,000 in May, or 66.9 percent of all NEV retail sales. This was up 44.9 percent year-on-year and up 7.5 percent from April.

Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) accounted for 192,000 units in May, contributing 33.1 percent of NEV retail sales, an increase of 109.1 percent year-on-year and up 17.22 percent from April.

Retail sales of all passenger vehicles in China were 1.742 million units in May, up 28.6 percent year-on-year and up 7.3 percent from April.

NEV penetration at retail in China was 33.3 percent in May, up 6.7 percentage points from 26.6 percent in the same month last year and up from 32.3 percent in April.

The penetration rate of NEVs was 57.1 percent for local brands, 23.0 percent for luxury brands and 4.0 percent for mainstream joint venture brands.

From January to May, retail sales of passenger NEVs in China were 2.42 million units, up 41 percent year-on-year.

Wholesale sales of passenger NEVs in China were 673,000 units in May, up 59.4 percent year-on-year and up 11.5 percent from April.

This means that the penetration of NEVs at wholesale in May was 33.7 percent, up 7.2 percentage points from 26.5 percent a year ago and down from 33.9 percent in April.

The penetration of Chinese domestic brands' NEVs at wholesale in May was 50.4 percent, compared to 33.6 percent for luxury brands and 4.3 percent for mainstream joint venture brands.

From January to May, wholesale sales of passenger NEVs in China were 2.78 million units, up 48 percent year-on-year.

In May, China exported 92,000 passenger NEVs, of which BEVs accounted for 92.6 percent. This represents a year-on-year increase of 135.7 percent, up 1.2 percent from April, and contributed 30.5 percent of all passenger vehicle exports.

Looking ahead, the CPCA believes it would be normal if Chinese passenger car sales in June were lower than a year ago, as China halved the purchase tax on major fuel vehicles starting June 1 last year, allowing for a big increase in sales that month.

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