China's April NEV sales hold steady as exports offset domestic weakness, CAAM data shows

• China's April NEV wholesale sales rose 9.7% year-on-year to 1.34 million units as exports surge 110% to a record high.
• April BEV wholesale sales stood at 905,000 units, up 10.2% year-on-year.

China's overall new energy vehicle (NEV) sales held steady in April, serving as a key pillar of support for the broader auto industry.

Wholesale sales of NEVs, including domestic sales and exports, reached 1.344 million units in April, rising 9.7% from a year earlier and 7.35% from the previous month, data released Monday by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) showed.

The growth brought the NEV share of new-car wholesale deliveries to 53.2% in April, up from 43.2% in March.

However, sluggish consumer demand in China remains a major headwind for automakers. Domestic NEV sales in April stood at just 914,000 units, dropping 10.8% year-on-year, despite a 3.7% month-on-month increase.

In contrast, expansion in overseas markets maintained a rapid pace, with this robust external demand providing sustained momentum for the overall stability of China's auto industry.

NEV exports hit a record 430,000 units in April, surging 110% year-on-year and 16% month-on-month.

Looking at the broader auto market, total vehicle wholesale sales stood at 2.526 million units in April, edging down 2.5% year-on-year and dropping 12.9% from the previous month.

Of that total, overall vehicle exports reached a record 901,000 units, jumping 74.4% year-on-year and 3% month-on-month.

The NEV wholesale figures released by CAAM include both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).

April BEV wholesale sales were 905,000 units, up 10.2% year-on-year and 8.9% month-on-month.

BEV production for the month stood at 871,000 units, rising 2.1% year-on-year.

BEV exports delivered a stellar performance, reaching 260,000 units, an 85.4% increase year-on-year and a 19.8% gain month-on-month.

PHEV sales in April were 439,000 units, up 8.8% year-on-year and 4.28% month-on-month.

PHEV production for the month was 449,000 units, a 13% increase year-on-year.

Despite the broader market decline, PHEV exports also soared. Exports for the month reached 170,000 units, surging 180% year-on-year and 10.7% month-on-month.