Global EV sales soared in February, as China's market kept its growth pace with 76% surge

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South China Morning Post

Wed, Mar 12, 2025, 2:30 AM 3 min read

Worldwide income of electrical vehicles (EVs) surged successful February, driven mostly by a 76 per cent maturation successful China adjacent arsenic Europe and the United States erected import barriers to stem the domination of made-in-China marques.

Global income of battery-powered EVs and hybrids jumped to 1.2 cardinal units successful February, 50 per cent much than past year, according to information compiled by Rho Motion. About three-quarters of those took spot successful China, wherever purchases soared 87 per cent from past year, according to information released separately by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

"Much of the maturation continues to travel from China, which is seeing a income renaissance of axenic electrical [vehicles] this twelvemonth compared to the hybrid emotion matter of 2024," Rho's information manager Charles Lester said.

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China continued its outsize domination of the world's marketplace for EVs and oil-guzzling vehicles. Sales successful the archetypal 2 months of 2025 - which coincided with the Lunar New Year, a seasonal highest for splashing retired - roseate 35 per cent to 1.4 cardinal units, astir 60 per cent of what was sold worldwide during the aforesaid period.

Xiaomi's SU7 Ultra electrical car astatine the 2025 Mobile World Congress successful Barcelona connected March 3, 2025. Photo: Xinhua alt=Xiaomi's SU7 Ultra electrical car astatine the 2025 Mobile World Congress successful Barcelona connected March 3, 2025. Photo: Xinhua>

Battery-driven EV income grew 46 per cent successful China, arsenic a plethora of caller models by BYD, Xiaomi, Xpeng and Zeekr drove consumers to eschew petrol-electric hybrids and spell all-in to clasp the electrical revolution. Sales of plug-in hybrids grew 22 per cent, slower than the aforesaid play past year, Rho said.

BYD, which surpassed Tesla successful the 4th fourth of 2023 arsenic the world's largest shaper of "pure" battery-powered EVs, maintained its relentless maturation pace. The Shenzhen-based carmaker said it sold 133,361 EVs and hybrids successful the archetypal 2 months. Exports doubled successful February to 67,025 EVs to acceptable the 3rd consecutive period of records.

Tesla continued to suffer marketplace stock connected the mainland to its Chinese rivals successful February, arsenic income plunged much than 50 per cent to 30,688 units past month, a faster gait than the 49.2 per cent diminution successful January.

BYD's EV being loaded connected NYK Line's ro-ro (roll on/Roll off) vessel astatine Guangzhou larboard successful confederate China connected February 22, 2025. Photo: AFP. alt=BYD's EV being loaded connected NYK Line's ro-ro (roll on/Roll off) vessel astatine Guangzhou larboard successful confederate China connected February 22, 2025. Photo: AFP.>