1. Market Overview: NEV Penetration Exceeds 61%, Reaching Record High

In September 2026, China's new energy vehicle (NEV) market maintained strong growth momentum. According to data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), NEV production and sales reached 1.814 million and 1.823 million units respectively, up 12.2% and 13.6% year-on-year. NEVs accounted for 61.6% of total new vehicle sales, surpassing the 60% mark for the third consecutive month and hitting a new record high.

On the retail side, data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) shows that NEV retail sales reached 1.084 million units in September, with a retail penetration rate of 67.0%, up 9.1 percentage points from the same period last year. In stark contrast, internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle retail sales fell 43% year-on-year to 530,000 units, with ICE market share dropping below one-third for the first time. The divergence between NEVs and ICE vehicles is accelerating, and the substitution of ICE vehicles by NEVs has entered a deep phase.

Cumulatively from January to September, NEV production and sales reached 12.483 million and 12.472 million units respectively, up 11% and 11.1% year-on-year, with a cumulative penetration rate of 53.6%. China's NEV market has fully transitioned from policy-driven to market-driven growth, and the continuous rise in penetration reflects a fundamental shift in consumer acceptance.

Figure 1: China NEV Sales & Penetration Rate (Aug vs Sep)

2. Brand Competition: BYD Leads by a Wide Margin, New Forces Reshuffle

The September NEV manufacturer competition presented a "one superpower, multiple strong players" landscape. BYD continued to top the ranking with 456,713 passenger vehicle sales, up 16.19% year-on-year and reaching a new annual high. With a market share of 17.9%, BYD led the second-place manufacturer by 165,000 units, further widening its dominant lead.

Geely ranked second with 188,800 NEV sales, followed by Chery with 127,500 units. Leapmotor delivered over 100,000 units for the third consecutive month, ranking fourth with 105,656 units and becoming the first new force brand to consistently enter the 100,000+ monthly sales club. Changan's NEV sales reached 103,000 units, and Tesla China sold 95,366 units, ranking fifth and sixth respectively.

The new force segment saw significant reshuffling in September. XPeng ranked second among new forces with 41,256 units, followed by Xiaomi with approximately 40,000 units, both surpassing the 40,000 mark. Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) delivered 37,490 units and NIO 37,408 units, with a gap of less than 100 units between them. Li Auto delivered 31,800 units, down 6.3% year-on-year and 15.6% month-on-month, slipping to sixth place among new forces.

Notably, traditional luxury brands are accelerating their decline. In September, none of the BBA (Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi) models exceeded 10,000 retail units. Porsche delivered 6,992 units in China, down 35.8% year-on-year. NIO's Q3 sales in China surpassed all three German luxury manufacturers for the first time in a single quarter, marking a fundamental reshaping of the luxury vehicle market by NEV brands.

Figure 2: China NEV Sales by Manufacturer — September 2026

3. Export Performance: NEV Exports Surge 157% YoY, Becoming Second Growth Curve

Against the backdrop of a cooler domestic "Golden September" auto market, exports demonstrated strong resilience. According to CAAM data, total vehicle exports reached 1.053 million units in September, up 61.4% year-on-year and exceeding 1 million units for the fourth consecutive month. Among them, NEV exports reached 571,000 units, surging 157.2% year-on-year and up 8.6% month-on-month. NEVs accounted for over 50% of total vehicle exports for the fourth consecutive month.

Cumulatively from January to September, total vehicle exports reached 8.205 million units, up 65.8% year-on-year; NEV exports reached 4.006 million units, up 127.9% year-on-year. NEVs have become the core growth engine of China's vehicle exports, with growth rates far exceeding the industry average.

In terms of export destinations, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East are the three core markets for Chinese NEVs. BYD's Hungary plant has entered equipment commissioning, marking another key step in its overseas manufacturing footprint. Chinese automakers are upgrading from simple product export to a comprehensive "product + technology + manufacturing" global expansion model to address new trade regulations and local production requirements.

Figure 3: China NEV Exports (2026)

4. Charging Infrastructure: Total Exceeds 24 Million, Wallbox and DC Fast Charger Segments Expand

According to data released by the National Energy Administration, as of the end of August 2026, China's total electric vehicle charging infrastructure (charging guns) reached 24.223 million units, up 39.6% year-on-year. Among them, public charging facilities reached 5.16 million units, up 19.5% year-on-year, with a total rated power of 262 million kW and an average power per gun of approximately 50.69 kW. Private charging facilities reached 19.063 million units, up 46.3% year-on-year, with a reported electricity capacity of 163 million kVA.

In terms of structure, wallbox EV chargers for residential use account for 78.7% of the total, serving as the absolute backbone of the charging network. This aligns with China's market characteristics where NEV passenger cars are dominated by household users and home charging scenarios prevail. The level 2 EV charger (7-22kW AC) remains the highest-volume product category. Public chargers account for 21.3%, with the proportion of DC fast chargers continuously increasing. The average power per public charger has risen from approximately 45 kW in 2025 to 50.69 kW, reflecting the evolution of public charging toward high-power DC fast charger solutions. Portable EV chargers serve as a growing supplementary category for travel and emergency use.

Data from the China EV Charging Infrastructure Promotion Alliance shows that as of July 2026, the national total charging infrastructure reached 23.683 million units, up 41.9% year-on-year. Approximately 540,000 new units were added in just one month, demonstrating strong growth momentum. China has built the world's largest, most technologically comprehensive, and most widely covered charging infrastructure network, with the vehicle-to-charger ratio continuously improving, providing solid infrastructure support for NEV adoption.

Figure 4: China Charging Infrastructure Composition (as of Aug 2026)

5. Trends and Outlook

First, NEV penetration is expected to continue rising. With the continuous improvement of NEV product capabilities and charging networks, consumer acceptance is increasing. NEV penetration is expected to remain above 60% in Q4, potentially exceeding 55% for the full year.

Second, exports will continue to be an important growth engine. The trend of NEV exports doubling year-on-year is expected to continue. Chinese automakers' global expansion will upgrade from product export to localized manufacturing to address trade barriers and market access requirements.

Third, charging infrastructure is evolving toward high-power and smart solutions. The average power per public charger continues to rise, with new technologies such as liquid-cooled ultra-fast charging, smart load management, and V2G bidirectional charging accelerating deployment. The charging network is evolving from a single energy replenishment terminal to a comprehensive energy hub.

Fourth, brand competition will further intensify. BYD's leading position is unlikely to be challenged in the short term, but competition in the second tier will become fiercer. New force brands face differentiation, and those with technological accumulation and scale effects will stand out.

6. Implications for EV Charger Exports and Global Sourcing

The rapid growth of China's NEV market and large-scale charging infrastructure deployment send important signals to global EV charger buyers. First, as the world's largest EV charger manufacturing and export base, China's domestic technology iteration directly shapes global product supply. With wallbox EV chargers accounting for nearly 80% of the charging network, the level 2 EV charger segment remains the highest-volume and most cost-competitive category. Meanwhile, the average power per public charger exceeding 50 kW reflects the rapid shift toward DC fast charger technology.

Second, the 157% year-on-year surge in NEV exports and the accelerating global expansion of Chinese automakers will drive accompanying demand for charging infrastructure overseas. As international markets follow China's EV adoption curve, they require compatible charging solutions, creating a window of opportunity for Chinese EV charger manufacturers to enter Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.

Third, from a sourcing perspective, China's complete EV charger supply chain — from power modules and connectors to final assembly — enables rapid response to global customization needs while maintaining cost competitiveness. When evaluating suppliers, buyers should focus on certification capabilities for target markets (CE, UL, etc.), OCPP protocol compatibility, and R&D strength in smart charging management systems. Portable EV chargers and SKD/CKD assembly options also offer flexible entry strategies for distributors looking to build local brands.

Data Sources

1. China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), "September 2026 Auto Industry Economic Operations", October 2026

2. China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), "September 2026 National Passenger Vehicle Market Analysis", October 2026

3. National Energy Administration, "National EV Charging Infrastructure Data", September 2026

4. China EV Charging Infrastructure Promotion Alliance, "Charging & Battery Swapping Infrastructure Operations", September 2026

5. Gasgoo, "September 2026 NEV Manufacturer Sales Ranking", October 2026

6. Yiche, "September 2026 NEV Sales by Major Manufacturers", October 2026

7. Jiemian News, "New Forces September Reshuffle: XPeng and Xiaomi Top 40k", October 2026

8. Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), "September 2026 Auto Industry Economic Operations", October 2026