China Accounts for 70% of Global Electric Vehicle Production

China’s share of global vehicle production continues to grow, with more than one in every three vehicles manufactured worldwide now being produced in the country. According to data from the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), global vehicle production rose from 92.7 million units to 96.4 million units in 2025, an increase of 3.9%. China alone produced 34.5 million vehicles, accounting for 35.8% of total global output. The figures show that China’s vehicle production increased by 10% compared with the previous year, putting it ahead of the combined output of the next four largest producing countries. Production in the Asia-Pacific region rose by 7.6% to approximately 59.2 million vehicles, pushing the region’s share of global production above 61%.

China also holds a clear lead in the electric vehicle sector. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), China produced 16 million electric cars in 2025, 20% more than its domestic demand. As a result, exports of Chinese electric cars doubled, reaching a record high of more than 2.5 million units. China accounts for 70% of global electric car production, more than 80% of battery cell production and approximately 85% of worldwide production of cathode materials used in batteries. A significant proportion of this output is reaching international markets through exports, as Chinese manufacturers are increasingly producing vehicles not only for domestic buyers but also for consumers around the world.

Meanwhile, China’s domestic market came under pressure in 2026. According to figures released by Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), 23.27 million vehicles were sold in China between January and September 2026, down 4% from the same period a year earlier. China’s share of global vehicle sales during this period stood at 32.1%.Global vehicle sales, by contrast, reached 72.52 million units during the same nine-month period, representing an increase of 3%.Three Chinese companies feature among the world’s ten largest automakers: BYD ranks fifth, Geely seventh and Chery eighth, with market shares of 5.4%, 4.7% and 4.5%, respectively.