New energy vehicles await shipment to overseas markets in Jinhua, East China's Zhejiang province, on Monday. HU XIAOFEI/FOR CHINA DAILY

Boosted by the growing global appetite for electrified transportation and a rebound in major overseas markets, China's new energy vehicle exports keep gaining momentum, playing an increasingly important role in accelerating the global automotive transition.

According to data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), new energy passenger vehicles accounted for more than half of China's total passenger vehicle exports for the first time in April, reaching 52.7 percent.

The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) also reported that the country's NEV exports reached 430,000 units during the month, up 110 percent year-on-year.

The strong performance comes as consumers worldwide increasingly embrace electric vehicles amid persistently elevated fuel costs.

"The sustained rise in global oil prices has directly increased fuel costs and, in turn, strengthened consumers' willingness to purchase EVs, thus creating favorable market conditions for China's NEV exports," said Gong Min, head of China auto research at UBS.

Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the CPCA, also said NEV sales outside China totaled 2.63 million units during the first four months, representing a 25 percent year-on-year increase and approaching the average growth rate recorded over the previous two years.

The rebound has been especially visible in major overseas automotive markets. Data released by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association at the end of May showed that battery EV deliveries in Europe jumped 38 percent year-on-year in April. Meanwhile, figures from Australia's Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries showed that EVs accounted for a record 16.4 percent of the country's auto market in April, while hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles together represented nearly one-third of total sales.

Against this backdrop, Chinese brands are gaining increasing traction among overseas consumers amid the accelerating shift toward automotive electrification.

BYD ranked second in the Australian market with an 8.3 percent market share in April, while Chinese automakers collectively accounted for around 30 percent of total vehicle sales in the country during the month. In Europe, Chinese brands' share of the EV market also exceeded 15 percent for the first time in April, according to market research firm Dataforce.

China's leading role in the global NEV sector also remains intact. Latest CPCA data showed that China accounted for 61 percent of the world's new energy passenger vehicle market during the first four months. The country's share of the global battery EV market stood at 56 percent, while its share of the global plug-in hybrid segment reached 71 percent.

Supported by advantages in batteries, electric powertrain technologies and cost competitiveness, Chinese NEVs are becoming increasingly attractive to overseas consumers while helping drive the international automotive industry's transition toward electrification, Gong said.

"China's NEV exports are not only serving the country's own development needs, but also helping the global market accelerate its electrification transition and achieve greater energy security and independence," he said.

Looking ahead, the CAAM forecasts that the combined scale of Chinese automakers' exports and overseas production is expected to exceed 10 million vehicles annually by the end of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), with a compound annual growth of over 10 percent.

lijiaying@chinadaily.com.cn