Published on: 2026-06-25
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Chongqing, June 25 /Xinhua/ — For Mr. Wan, who regularly commutes to work and back home in the megacity of Chongqing in southwest China, switching from a gasoline car to an electric vehicle has significantly changed his financial situation.
Previously, his monthly expenses on fuel amounted to more than 1,200 yuan (about $177, USA), but now, charging his car, the corresponding costs have fallen to less than 200 yuan per month, which has led to savings of about 12 thousand yuan per year.
Mr. Van’s story reflects the large-scale transformation in the world’s largest automobile market.
According to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), in May of this year, the share of new energy vehicles (NEV) in total new car sales in the country was 56.9%. For comparison, this figure was 50.8% in 2025 and 40.9% in 2024.
Almost 1.5 million NEV vehicles were sold in China last month, and the growth of this market in the country continues to outpace global expectations.
The Deputy Secretary of CAAM, Chen Shihua, explained such dynamics as a combination of cost reduction, rapid technology modernization, and a fundamental change in consumer preferences. Along with the decline in sales of traditional fuel cars, the NEV car segment is taking its own growth trajectory.
For Chinese buyers, the attractiveness of NEV vehicles is not limited to the economy of means. The main competition now revolves around the level of comfort of intelligent cabins, managed by software. As major domestic artificial intelligence models are increasingly integrated into cars, the dialogue with the car moves away from the previous model of mechanically performing separate commands and shifts to a new, more human and effective stage, with cars gradually acquiring the ability to “feel emotions.”
Some models are now equipped with sensors and facial recognition systems that track the driver’s emotional state in real time and can automatically adjust the cabin lighting and fragrance, providing more comfortable conditions. As noted by a dealership manager in Chongqing, consumers are less focused on engine power and instead prefer intellectual functions and the overall quality of the user experience.
The active implementation of high technologies is accompanied by a sharp drop in prices. Thanks to the stabilization of the cost of materials for batteries and the widespread application of new production technologies, such as integrated injection molding, automakers directly help consumers save money.
Brands like BYD and Leapmotor offer cars with an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) for less than 100 thousand yuan, while some NEV models with basic equipment cost around 80 thousand yuan.
Charging infrastructure, which for a long time was considered a potential “bottleneck,” is also developing in line with growing demand. According to data from the State Energy Administration of China, the total number of charging devices/stations across the country has reached almost 22 million units as of the end of April 2026.
Currently, the network of charging devices covers territories from the central districts of cities to remote rural areas, making charging an electric car as convenient for millions of drivers as refueling with traditional types of fuel. Additionally, market growth is stimulated by government support measures, including subsidies within the framework of the trade-in program.
Professor Xiaotong Hua Govey of Peking University believes that the demand for electric vehicles is accelerating due to a number of factors, including high global oil prices, rapid technological progress, and a younger, more technically savvy category of buyers. In addition, high productivity, fashionable design, and a low-carbon lifestyle – all of these collectively form a new wave in the field of environmentally friendly transportation acquisition.
Thanks to highly integrated production chains and the internal megaring, China has been strengthening its position as a leading global manufacturer and seller of NEV vehicles for many consecutive years.
Industry experts note that China, accelerating the implementation of NEV, offers the world a practically accessible path for achieving green and low-carbon transformation, as well as for fulfilling sustainable development goals.
Please note; this information is unprocessed content obtained directly from the information source. It represents an exact report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.