Year-end surge: electric trucks outsell diesel for the first time in China
This insight is based on data published by CV World, a Chinese website specialising in the commercial vehicle market. The analysis did not focus solely on the sales of battery-electric trucks but rather on the registrations of new energy vehicles (NEVs), which in China include fully and partially electrified plug-in vehicles (BEVs, PHEVs, and EREVs). According to the data, the NEV share among new heavy-duty trucks in China surpassed 50% for the first time in December. This surge was primarily driven by the phase-out of a previously available trade-in subsidy in China (applicable when purchasing a new vehicle while trading in a used one). Additionally, CV World analysts noted that consumers anticipated ‘additional new energy vehicle (NEV) purchase tax costs in 2026.’
While the overall Chinese market for heavy-duty trucks grew by 21% year-on-year, demand for NEVs increased disproportionately. The total of 231,100 newly registered NEV units in 2025 represents a 182% increase compared to the previous year. The table below highlights just how exceptional December was: the 45,300 new NEVs registered at year-end marked a 198% growth compared to December 2024 and a 62% increase over the already strong November figures.
The table also shows that NEV registrations have been steadily increasing since the beginning of the year. Following a seasonally weak start to the year in China, NEV market shares quickly rose to around 25%, before climbing to the 30% mark in autumn and surpassing it significantly in November and December.
| Month | NEV Heavy-Duty Trucks Sold | NEV Share |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 15,200 | 22% |
| January 2025 | 7,085 | 21% |
| February 2025 | 8,171 | 17% |
| March 2025 | 15,000 | 21% |
| April 2025 | 15,800 | 23% |
| May 2025 | 15,100 | 24% |
| June 2025 | 18,000 | 26% |
| July 2025 | 16,700 | 26% |
| August 2025 | 17,800 | 27% |
| September 2025 | 24,100 | 29% |
| October 2025 | 20,100 | 29% |
| November 2025 | 28,000 | 36% |
| December 2025 | 45,300 | 54% |
Source: CV World
On an annual average, NEV market penetration reached the aforementioned 29%. In 2024, this figure was just 14%. However, the special effects alone do not explain this shift. For instance, the portal CN EV Post reports that battery-electric trucks are now economically viable. Xia Nan, Sales Director for Commercial Vehicles at China’s battery giant CATL, recently calculated that NEV commercial vehicles in China could save around 1.2 million yuan (approximately 146,000 euros) compared to internal combustion engine vehicles over a ten-year operating cycle.
CATL is regarded as a key driver of electrification in China’s commercial vehicle sector. In mid-2024, the company introduced a brand line for commercial vehicle batteries under the name Tectrans (formerly Tianxing). Additionally, CATL has since launched a swappable battery for trucks, which can be exchanged at stations in just a few minutes. The company projected as early as mid-2025 that the commercial vehicle industry could achieve a 50% electrification rate within the next three years.
In 2025, the ICCT also reported that the five largest truck manufacturers in China account for 75% of the diesel truck market. Specifically, these are FAW, Dongfeng Motor, Foton-Daimler, Shaanxi Auto, and Sinotruk/CNHTC. Focusing on zero-emission trucks, the five largest manufacturers already hold a 61% market share, according to the ICCT. This group consists of XCMG, SANY, FAW, Shacman, and Yutong. “This suggests that the market for zero-emission heavy-duty trucks has reached a similar level of maturity as the market for internal combustion engine trucks, with leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) dominating an increasing share of the market,” the authors concluded in May of last year.
cnevpost.com
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