China’s EV Sales Surpass Gas-Powered Cars for First Time in 2025

China’s EV Sales Surpass Gas-Powered Cars for First Time in 2025

Electric vehicle sales in China reached 13.1 million units last year, overtaking internal combustion engine vehicles for the first time in history.

Fact Check
The evidence provided strongly supports the truthfulness of the statement. The most direct and compelling evidence comes from two sources. The Beijing Review article, with high authority and maximum relevance, explicitly mentions a 'historic milestone' was reached for New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) in 2025, citing official data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). While it doesn't use the exact phrasing of the claim, a 'historic milestone' in this context strongly implies surpassing traditional vehicles. More definitively, the CleanTechnica article, a specialized and highly relevant source, explicitly states that China's plugin vehicle market share was 'already above 50%' in 2025. A market share exceeding 50% logically confirms that sales of these vehicles surpassed those of all other types, including gas-powered cars.This core evidence is reinforced by multiple other high-authority sources (Global Times, China Daily, MSN, Gasgoo) that consistently point to CAAM as the primary data source for 2025 vehicle sales. These sources corroborate the trend of robust growth in NEV sales throughout the year. For instance, the Global Times reports a significant 17.6% rise in NEV retail sales in 2025. There is no conflicting evidence among the provided sources. The articles focusing on exports are less relevant to this domestic sales claim but do not contradict it. The convergence of a direct statistical claim (>50% market share), the report of a 'historic milestone,' and supporting data on strong sales growth from multiple credible outlets citing the same official body (CAAM) makes the assessment highly confident.
Summary

China sold a record 13.1 million electric vehicles in 2025, surpassing internal combustion engine car sales, which dropped 13% year-on-year to 12.3 million units — the lowest in 15 years. This marks the first time EV sales have exceeded traditional gas-powered cars in the country, highlighting a significant shift in the automotive market driven by policy support and consumer adoption.

Terms & Concepts
  • Electric Vehicle (EV): A vehicle powered entirely or partially by electricity, typically using rechargeable batteries instead of a gasoline engine.
  • Internal Combustion Engine (ICE): A traditional vehicle engine that burns fuel, such as gasoline or diesel, to generate power.