Cui Dongshu: The number of new energy passenger vehicles worldwide reached 18.38 million in January-September, a year-on-year increase of 15%

The Zhitong Finance App learned that Cui Dongshu, Secretary General of the Passenger Transport Association, published an article stating that from January to September 2026, the world's new energy passenger vehicles reached 18.38 million units, an increase of 15% year on year. Among them, sales of new energy vehicles in September increased 16% year on year and 18% from August, and the growth rate returned to normal historical levels. From January to September 2026, the share of new energy vehicles reached 25.3%, of which pure electric vehicles accounted for 17.8%, plug-in hybrid vehicles reached 7.6%, and hybrids achieved excellent performance of 8%.

European new energy passenger vehicles sold 3.86 million units in 2025, an increase of 960,000 units over the same period last year, an increase of 33%. According to preliminary statistics, Europe's new energy passenger vehicles were 544,000 in September, up 38% year on year, and 3.68 million from January to September 2026, up 35% year on year. Due to price increases due to high tariffs and the cancellation of new energy subsidies, US NEV sales in September 2026 were 120,000 units, down 39% year on year. From January to September, US NEV sales were 950,000, down 32% year on year.

The overall penetration rate of new energy vehicles in the world is showing a rapid upward trend. It has reached 13.1% in 2022, 15.9% in 2023, 19.5% in 2024, and 23.6% in 2025. In 2026, the penetration rate of new energy vehicles in the world was 25.3%. Among them, Germany reached 34.2%, Norway reached 83%, the United Kingdom 36.7%, while the US only had 7% and Japan only 3.8%, so the imbalance in the world's NEV development is extremely obvious.

From January to September 2026, China's share of new energy passenger vehicles in the world reached 63%, and reached a good level of 65.5% in July-September 2026. In 2026, China's share of the global pure electric vehicle market was 59%. The performance of pure electric vehicles in China was temporarily poor due to factors at the beginning of the year, reaching 62% in the 3rd quarter. In 2026, China's share of the world's plug-in hybrid reached a high level of 71% and reached 74% in the 3rd quarter. China showed excellent performance in the world plug-in hybrid market.

In 2025, the overseas sales share of autonomous new energy passenger vehicles reached 15.8%, an increase of 6.2 percentage points. In 2026, the overseas market sales share of autonomous new energy passenger vehicles increased dramatically, reaching 27.8% in September, a further sharp jump of 12 percentage points.

I. Global NEV trends

1. World NEV performance in 2026

In 2024, the world sold 91.77 million units of automobiles, of which 17.88 million new energy vehicles were sold, and fuel vehicles accounted for a relative decline. In 2025, world automobile sales will reach 96.89 million units, and new energy vehicles will reach 22.89 million units.

From January to September 2026, world automobile sales reached 72.52 million units, and new energy vehicles reached 18.38 million units. From January to September 2026, ordinary hybrids surpassed plug-in hybrids as a growth highlight.

2. World automobile energy structure

In 2025, the global NEV sales ratio reached 30% of the world's automobile sales, an increase of 4 percentage points over the full year of 2024, while NEVs in the narrow sense reached 23.6%, showing a relatively strong state.

From January to September 2026, the share of new energy vehicles reached 25.3%, of which pure electric vehicles accounted for 17.8%, plug-in hybrid vehicles reached 7.6%, and hybrids achieved excellent performance of 8%.

II. World trend of new energy passenger vehicles

1. Trends in the world's new energy passenger vehicle market

From 2022 to 2025, the world's new energy vehicles showed an accelerated upward trend, and growth was stronger at a low base. The world's new energy vehicles started low in 2026, then resumed high growth in March-September, reached a new high in September, and the strength at the end of the quarter was obvious.

2. World New Energy Passenger Vehicle Performance

Sales of new energy passenger vehicles reached 2.87 million units in 2020, and the trend increased by 42% compared with the same period in 2019. Sales of new energy passenger vehicles reached 6.37 million units in 2021, a strong performance that exceeded expectations by 122%.

The trend of new energy passenger vehicles in the world was strong in 2022, reaching 10.5 million units for the whole year, an increase of 65% over the previous year. The trend of new energy passenger vehicles in the world was strong in 2023, reaching 14.12 million units for the whole year, an increase of 34% over the previous year.

In 2024, the world's new energy passenger vehicles reached 17.88 million, an increase of 27% over the previous year. Because of the slowdown in the European and American energy trends, the world's new energy has slowed significantly compared to previous years. In 2025, the world's new energy passenger vehicles reached 22.89 million, an increase of 28% over the previous year.

From January to September 2026, the world's new energy passenger vehicles reached 18.38 million units, up 15% year on year. Among them, sales of new energy vehicles in September increased 16% year on year, up 18% from August, and the growth rate returned to normal historical levels.

3. Overseas NEV passenger vehicle market trends

Overseas trends in the third quarter of this year were relatively volatile, forming a characteristic of fragmentation in overseas new energy market trends. Due to the large sales volume in the European NEV market, the overall performance of overseas NEVs is relatively good.

The overall trend of new energy in markets outside of China is growing abnormally. The trend of new energy in the US has fluctuated sharply recently. As a result, sales of new energy vehicles in other countries overseas increased 26% by 955,000 units in September, and overseas NEV sales in January-September reached 6.79 million units, a growth rate of 29%, which is close to the average of the previous two years.

Currently, in mainstream markets that can be counted overseas, the overall overseas market share performance of own-brand new energy products continues to strengthen. In 2023, China's own-brand NEVs had 7.1% overseas market share; in 2024, the overseas sales share of autonomous new energy passenger vehicles was 9.6%, an increase of 2.5 points; in 2025, the overseas market sales share of autonomous new energy passenger vehicles reached 15.8%, an increase of 6.2 percentage points.

In 2026, the overseas market sales share of autonomous new energy passenger vehicles increased dramatically, reaching 27.8% in September, a sharp jump of 12 percentage points over the same period. From January to September 2026, the overseas market share of own-brand new energy was 25.2%, an increase of 9.4 percentage points over 2025.

From January to September 2026, the overseas sales share of autonomous new energy passenger vehicles was 25.2%, up 9.4 percentage points from the same period in 2025. Due to the good performance of autonomous new energy exports, and the severe contraction of the US NEV market, the sales share of autonomous NEV passenger vehicles in overseas markets has increased significantly. Currently, the share of new energy in South America exceeds 80%, and the share of new energy in Southeast Asia has reached 46%.

Judging from regional market trends for new energy vehicles, Europe surpassed China in 2020. The European NEV market grew steadily at an overall high level from 2021 to 2026, while China's NEV market has continued to trend strongly in recent years.

The slump in China's domestic new energy sources from January to September this year was temporary. Exports continued to grow, while the trend of new energy in the US was far weaker than that of China.

New energy passenger cars in the US weakened after October 2025. Early experimenters and environmentalists in Europe and the US have already purchased electric vehicles. The US government has lifted subsidies for new energy vehicles, which has had a great impact on new energy in the US. Even if Tesla liberalizes the use of autonomous driving, the increase in sales penetration rate has not met expectations.

In 2025, sales of new energy in the US fell 2% to 1.72 million units, which is lower than the growth rate in recent years. Due to price increases due to high tariffs and the cancellation of new energy subsidies, US NEV sales in September 2026 were 120,000 units, down 39% year on year, up 10% from August; in January-September, US NEV sales were 950,000, down 32% year on year.

Sales of new energy vehicles in Europe were relatively low in September. The market declined sequentially this year. Currently, against the backdrop of a sluggish European economy and consumption, European NEVs are still growing significantly.

European new energy passenger vehicles sold 3.86 million units in 2025, an increase of 960,000 units over the same period last year, an increase of 33%. According to preliminary statistics, Europe's new energy passenger vehicles were 544,000 in September, up 38% year on year, and 3.68 million from January to September 2026, up 35% year on year.

4. New energy penetration rate in countries around the world

The overall penetration rate of new energy vehicles in the world is showing a rapid upward trend. It has reached 13.1% in 2022, 15.9% in 2023, 19.5% in 2024, and 23.6% in 2025. In 2026, the penetration rate of new energy vehicles in the world was 25.3%. Among them, Germany reached 34.2%, Norway reached 83%, the United Kingdom 36.7%, while the US only had 7% and Japan only 3.8%, so the imbalance in the world's NEV development is extremely obvious.

As China continues to strengthen the development of new energy sources, America weakens its incentive policy for new energy sources, and Europe's new energy subsidies are gradually being restarted, and the world's new energy vehicles have entered a new stage of fragmented development.

III. Structural characteristics of the world's new energy passenger vehicles

1. Trends in the world's new energy passenger vehicle market

The European new energy market throughout 2021 was affected by the epidemic, and the growth of new energy sources was weak. 2022 is still affected by the pandemic. Europe's share in 2022 fell significantly from 2021, and Europe's share continued to decline slightly in 2023-2024. The world share of new energy in Europe reached 17% in 2025, and the world share of new energy in Europe reached 20% from January to September 2026, a significant increase over the same period last year.

Recently, the growth rate of China's new energy passenger vehicles is stronger than the world average growth rate. In 2020, the world share of new energy passenger vehicles in China reversed significantly. In 2021, China maintained a strong level of 52%; in 2022, China's share of NEVs in the world exceeded 62%; in 2023, China accounted for 64% of the world share; in 2024, it continued to sprint to 69%; in 2025, China's share of NEVs in the world reached 68.3%; from January to September 2026, it reached a good level of 65.5% in July-September 2026.

2. New energy vehicle share trends among manufacturers

Looking at sales share over the years, China's BYD (01211) leads the world, Geely (00175) has risen rapidly, and Tesla (TSLA.US) has not performed well and has declined to third place. Recently, two autonomous vehicle companies, SAIC Motor Group (600104.SH) and SAIC Wuling, have performed well overseas.

Geely Automobile and Chery New Energy have strengthened significantly recently. The performance of German Volkswagen's new energy vehicles was relatively stable, and the BMW Group, Korea Hyundai, etc. dropped to the third-tier level.

Competition in the new energy wave for luxury cars is relatively intense, and Tesla's performance in the US is slowing down. Currently, the trend of BMW and Mercedes-Benz is average.

IV. Pure electric new energy vehicle structure market trends

1. Pure electric world structure

China's share performance in the global pure electric vehicle market was relatively stable, with a share of around 63% in 2023-2025; in 2026, China's share of the global pure electric vehicle market was 59%. The performance of China's pure electric vehicles was temporarily poor due to factors at the beginning of the year, reaching 62% in the 3rd quarter.

The share of pure electric vehicles in Europe fell from 26% in 2021 to 20% in 2023, and the share fell relatively to 20% in January-September 2026. The share of electric vehicles in the US was only 8.5% in 2025, while the 5.7% performance declined significantly from January to September 2026.

2. Trends in car companies' share

Judging from the pure electric share of car companies, BYD's share continues to rise overall. From the 7% share level in 2021, the share rose to 17% in 2023, and the 2024-2025 share reached 18%, which performed well. From January to September 2026, BYD's share fell to 16%, and gradually recovered to 18% in July-September.

Tesla's share performance among pure electric vehicles is relatively poor. Tesla's share level of around 23% in 2021 has remained low at 12%.

Geely Group's share rose from 4% in 2019 to 9% in 2026. SAIC Motor's share of pure electric power has been strong recently, and GAC Group and Changan pure electric have been relatively stable.

5. Market trends in plug-in hybrid new energy vehicle structures

1. Mixed world structure

China is far ahead in terms of the share of plug-in hybrids in the world. China's share of plug-in hybrids in the world was 33% in 2021; in 2025, China's share of plug-in hybrids reached a high level of 76.4%; in 2026, China's share of plug-in hybrids in the world reached a high level of 71%, reaching 74% in the 3rd quarter. China showed excellent performance in the world plug-in hybrid market.

Europe's share of plug-in hybrids fell from 55% in 2021 to 20% in 2026.

2. Trends in car companies' share

Judging from the car companies' share of plug-in hybrids, BYD had the most outstanding performance. BYD's share of plug-in hybrids in the world was 15% in 2021, rising to 36% of the world's plug-in hybrid share in 2023. In 2024, BYD's share of 39% was very good. From January to September this year, the share remained at 32%, reflecting BYD's leading performance in the plug-in hybrid market.

German Volkswagen's share of plug-in hybrids rose sharply to 15% in 2021, then fell to a rock bottom in 2024, and then rose back to 6.4% in 2026. BMW's share of plug-in hybrids then fell to the bottom in 2024, then fell back to 2.1% in 2026. Geely Volvo's share of plug-in hybrids accounts for 12.3% of the world.

6. Hybrid vehicle structure market trends

1. The mixed world structure

China's hybrid developed rapidly in the first two years, and in 2022 it became the world's largest hybrid market. With the rise of plug-in hybrids, China's share of hybrid power in the world has declined since 2023, but in 2026, China's hybrid share will rise to 16.4% of the world.

The hybrid market in the US has rebounded significantly since 2024. The hybrid market in the US accounts for 31% of the world from 2026 to now.

2. The share trend of mixed enterprises

The hybrid market is strongly dominated by Japan and South Korea. The hybrid performance of Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Hyundai is strong, accounting for 82% in 2026.

As Europe suppresses the pure electric vehicles of Chinese autonomous car companies, SAIC MG's hybrid performance in the European market quickly strengthened to a super level of 6%.

Most other companies have a mixed share of less than 1%. Recently, Ford and Mazda have performed well in the hybrid market share in the US.