China’s electric vehicle (EV) exports reached a record US$9.2 billion in May 2026, driven by strong demand from Southeast Asia as countries across the region ramp up transport electrification amid concerns over energy security and fuel costs.
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New data released by global energy think tank Ember shows that the May figure represented a 49 per cent year-on-year increase and surpassed the previous monthly record of US$9.1 billion set in April.
China exported around 448,000 electric passenger cars in May, comprising approximately 279,000 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and 169,000 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). EV exports have grown rapidly from less than US$1 billion a month in 2020 and are now approaching lithium-ion batteries as the country’s largest “new three” clean technology export category, the think tank said in a press release.
Southeast Asia emerged as a key growth market, with exports to Asean reaching a record US$1.2 billion in May. This was led by Thailand, which imported more than 36,000 Chinese electric cars during the month, while shipments to the Philippines exceeded 33,000 vehicles.
Source: China cleantech exports data, Ember. Includes battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
Smaller Asean markets also posted record import volumes. Cambodia and Laos recorded their highest monthly imports as governments introduced policies to encourage EV adoption, including tax incentives, charging infrastructure expansion and local assembly partnerships.
Cambodia slashed customs duties on battery electric vehicles to zero and lowered tariffs on plug-in hybrids to 7 per cent from 35 per cent in late March, Ember said. Battery electric vehicles make up the majority of the regional market, while plug-in hybrids are gaining traction quickly in Cambodia.
In Laos, authorities cut EV registration and service fees, required transport companies to ensure EVs account for 10 per cent of their fleets by the end of 2026, and temporarily banned petrol vehicle imports until year-end to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels.
Source: Ember analysis of GACC data
Lam Pham, energy analyst for Asia at Ember, said the volatility in global fuel markets had accelerated the region’s shift towards electric mobility.
“As anticipated, the disruption to global fuel markets caused by the Middle East conflict and the resulting impacts on fuel prices have accelerated transport electrification across Asean,” he said, adding that the current energy crisis has reinforced the value of electrification as a pathway to greater energy security, reduced fuel import exposure, and long-term transport cost savings.
The latest figures build on a broader trend of accelerating EV adoption across Asia, highlighting the region’s growing role in the global energy transition.
Euan Graham, senior electricity and data analyst at Ember, also noted that the pace of exports reflected Southeast Asia’s emergence as one of the world’s fastest-growing EV markets.
“China’s electric vehicle exports continue to break records, and the surge in shipments to Asean markets is especially striking,” he said.
Singapore stands out as the most advanced market in the region with EVs accounting for more than half of new car sales in early 2026. This is followed by Vietnam with EVs making up around 40 per cent of new car sales.
Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia have recorded adoption levels of approximately 20 per cent, 15 per cent and 5 per cent each.
