The NEV segment fared better than the overall automotive market, while PHEVs outperformed BEVs.

China's new energy vehicle (NEV) retail sales declined in April, but penetration rose to a record high, as the overall market performed worse than the NEV segment.

Retail sales of Chinese passenger NEVs totaled 674,000 units in April, up 28.3 percent from a year ago but down 5.7 percent from March, according to data released today by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).

The figure is lower than the 706,000 preliminary figure released by the CPCA earlier this month, and also lower than the 720,000-unit estimate it released at the end of last month.

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 60.1 percent of all NEV retail sales in April at 405,000 units. That's up 12.21 percent year-on-year, but down 5.37 percent from March.

Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) accounted for 269,000 units of retail sales in April, contributing 39.9 percent of all NEV retail sales. That's up 64.23 percent year-on-year, but 4.27 percent lower than in March.

China's passenger vehicles, including sedans, SUVs and MPVs, retailed 1,532,000 units in April, 5.7 percent lower year-on-year and 9.4 percent lower than in March.

China's NEV penetration at retail was a record 43.7 percent in April, up 11.7 percentage points from 32 percent a year earlier and up 2.1 percentage points from 41.6 percent in March, the CPCA said.

The retail penetration of NEVs of local brands was 66.8 percent in April, compared with 22.6 percent for luxury brands and 7.5 percent for mainstream joint venture brands, according to the CPCA.

Wholesale sales of passenger NEVs in China were 785,000 units in April, up 30 percent year-on-year but down 3.7 percent from March, the CPCA said.

NEV penetration at wholesale in April was 39.9 percent, up 6.0 percentage points from 33.9 percent a year earlier and 2.9 percentage points from 37 percent in March.

Penetration of local Chinese NEVs in April was 53.6 percent, compared to 31.5 percent for luxury brands and 6.8 percent for mainstream JVs.

Passenger NEVs exported from China stood at 115,000 units in April, up 26.8 percent year-on-year but 4.1 percent lower than in March, contributing 27.9 percent of passenger car exports.

BEVs contributed 78.8 percent of April's NEV exports, according to the CPCA.

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