Over 65% of cars sold in China are now EVs as Iran war drives electric shift
Por Daniel Ren — South China Morning Post – News feed
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China’s electric vehicle adoption rate has hit yet another record high, as rising fuel prices accelerate the pivot away from petrol cars
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Daniel Ren in Shanghai Published: 9:00am, 10 Sep 2026
China’s electric vehicle (EV) adoption rate has hit an all-time high, as the Iran war drives motorists to shift away from petrol cars despite a sluggish automotive market.
A record 65.2 per cent of the 1.54 million cars sold in mainland China last month were either pure electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles, data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) showed.
The figure broke the previous record of 65.1 per cent set a month earlier.
“Consumers are convinced of EVs’ advantages now that range anxiety has been largely eased,” said Zhao Zhen, a sales director at Shanghai-based auto dealer Wan Zhuo Auto. “Higher penetration rates can be expected as more drivers shun petrol cars.”
The pivot to electric cars comes as overall vehicle sales in China slump amid an economic slowdown. Last month, petrol car sales plunged 40 per cent year on year, while EV deliveries fell by a more modest 10.1 per cent, according to CPCA data.
The Iran war appears to be accelerating the electrification shift, as rising fuel costs prompt more Chinese consumers to shun petrol vehicles.
Another factor has been the debut of hundreds of new EV models in recent months featuring advanced driver-assistance systems and other new technologies , which have helped convince millions of buyers to splash out on a new vehicle, according to car dealers. Advertisement Select Voice Select Speed 0.8x 0.9x 1.0x 1.1x 1.2x 1.5x 1.75x 00:00 00:00 1x AI-generated voice
