China’s Electric Car Boom and the Decline of Petrol Vehicles

China’s Electric Car Boom and the Decline of Petrol Vehicles

This research highlights the turning point in China’s automotive market as electric vehicles rapidly replaced traditional petrol-powered cars. Internal combustion engine (ICE) car sales peaked in 2017 at around 25 million units and have since declined, while electric vehicle sales have surged — from one in eighteen new cars in 2020 to one in two by 2024. This transition marks a crucial step in decarbonizing transport and reducing oil dependency. Source: Our World in Data (Hannah Ritchie) Data: International Energy Agency, Global EV Outlook 2025