The Big ICE Meltdown — May’s China EV Sales Report
cleantechnica.com Jun 14, 2026

The Big ICE Meltdown — May’s China EV Sales Report

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

China's electric vehicle market share reached a record 63% in May, with pure electrics accounting for 42% of sales. Internal combustion engine model sales crashed 39% year over year, while plugin hybrids dropped 25%. The overall market decreased 22% year over year to 1.5 million sales. Pure electrics, however, were up 4% year over year to 637,000 sales. This shift has led to a record-breaking EV market share, with domestic brands accounting for 81% of EV sales. The breakdown between pure electrics and plugin hybrids is also shifting in favor of pure electrics.

💡 Why It Matters

  • · Investing in internal combustion engine technology is becoming increasingly obsolete as the Chinese market rapidly electrifies.
  • · The demise of ICE models in China will have a ripple effect on the global automotive industry, making it unsustainable to continue investing in outdated technology.