Number of cars in China reached 476 million, drivers exceeded 567 million by end of June 2026
Behind every number on the roads are millions of people, their daily commutes, work and leisure. The growth of the vehicle fleet and the number of drivers reflects not only economic development but also the country's rapid electrification: nearly half of new registrations are electric vehicles, reshaping cities and the environment.
The Ministry of Public Security reported on Tuesday that the total number of cars in China reached 476 million by the end of June 2026, and the number of licensed drivers exceeded 567 million. In the first half of 2026, 15.81 million new vehicles were registered nationwide. By the end of June, the number of new energy vehicles (NEVs) nationwide had grown to 48.97 million, accounting for 13.19 percent of all vehicles. Over the same period, 5.195 million NEVs were registered, representing 49.42 percent of all new vehicle registrations, up 4.45 percentage points from a year earlier.
By the end of June, 105 cities across the country had more than 1 million vehicles, four more than in the same period last year. Of these, 47 cities had more than 2 million vehicles, and 27 cities had more than 3 million vehicles.
China remains the world's largest automotive market. The rise in NEV numbers reflects active government support for green transport and the expansion of charging infrastructure. The growing number of cities with million‑plus vehicle fleets points to continued urbanisation and rising population mobility. As CCTV+ reports. The upward trend in electric vehicle numbers is expected to continue in the second half, driven by new models and incentive measures.
