China’s Car Sales Climb in April, EVs Drive Growth Despite Export Dip
Passenger car sales in China rose by 14.8% year-on-year in April 2025, reaching 1.78 million units, marking the third consecutive month of growth. According to Reuters, this surge was largely supported by a government-backed vehicle replacement program, which helped offset the impact of increased U.S. tariffs.
Data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) shows that a total of 6.97 million vehicles were sold from January to April, an 8.2% increase compared to the same period last year.
Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles saw robust demand, with sales soaring 33.9% in April and accounting for 50.8% of total passenger car sales for the month. However, vehicle exports fell by 2.2%.
Meanwhile, enthusiasm surrounding autonomous driving technology appears to have cooled, particularly after an accident involving Xiaomi’s SU7 model led to tighter government scrutiny.
