According to our China New Energy Bus and Truck Monthly Tracker, total registrations of electrified commercial vehicles in August maintained their growth momentum, registering an 87% year-on-year increase to 17,822 units – a new high in 2022. The bus market accounted for a majority 56% of registrations in that month, but the truck segment generated a higher year-on-year growth rate – 89%.

In August, registration sales of new energy trucks stood at 7.831 units, a new record for 2022. This came in the wake of the general recovery of the truck market, particularly the light-duty trucks segment, as well as the continued penetration of electrified vehicles.

New Energy Truck Sales

Following a decline in sales over 13 consecutive months, the truck market rebounded by 8% year-on-year in August, in part due to the low sales volumes during the same period last year, but also because light-duty trucks led the way in a sales recovery thanks to government policy incentives. The relatively low impact of the pandemic on the sector also had a bearing on the recovery in sales, as did the implementation of regulations to control the issue of overloading of light-duty vehicles. Furthermore, new energy vehicles continued their rapid penetration, accounting for 3.0% of sales in August, up by 1.3 percentage points compared with the same period last year.

Heavy-duty vehicles also achieved strong growth

All vehicle types registered strong growth in August. Driven by the increasing adoption of electrified solutions in the heavy-duty sector where the control of emissions is a high priority, and more specifically the promotion of battery-swapping solutions, the sales of electrified heavy-duty trucks maintained their growth momentum, registering a 130% year-on-year increase to 1,827 units. Light-duty trucks achieved a 78% year-on-year growth, and remained the largest product group, accounting for 74% of total new energy truck registrations.

New Energy Truck Sales by Vehicle Size, August

Growth in different powertrains

From a powertrain perspective, battery electric remained the dominant type for new energy trucks, occupying a 95% share and registrations of battery electric trucks maintained strong growth at 86% year-on-year. With the delivery of hydrogen fuel cell trucks into the market for demonstration projects in various cities, this segment saw a more than fivefold increase in sales year-on-year, up to 250 units. Sales of hybrid trucks – primarily light-duty trucks – were up by 39% to 151 units.

New Energy Truck Sales by Powertrain, August

For more information on the China New Energy Bus and Truck Market, contact Principal Analyst Shirly Zhu.

View our monthly tracker here.