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China's exports of passenger cars jumped almost 20% in 2024, to almost 5 million vehicles, contributing to a .

Out of that, exports of what China calls “ ,� including pure battery EVs, fuel-cell cars and plug-in hybrids -- electric vehicles with a small gasoline-powered engine to back up the batteries -- reached 1.28 million. That was a 6.7% increase from 2023.

The expansion of Chinese EV makers overseas has alarmed automakers in the U.S. and Europe. The U.S. on China-made electric cars last year, and the European Union also hit China-based EV makers with new tariffs, saying the industry had benefited from unfair government subsidies.

Domestically, sales of passenger cars rose 13.6% in December, driven in part by , raising sales of all passenger cars in China by 3.1% for the year, to 22.6 million.

Plug-in hybrids saw the most rapid growth in 2024, attracting a second generation of electric vehicle buyers who are nervous about buying pure EVs or looking for the more extended range that hybrids can provide.

The continued rapid expansion of China’s EV sales contrasts with the United States and Europe, where

Sales of traditional gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles sank 17% in 2024, from 14 million to 11.6 million. They accounted for 51% of overall new car sales.

Sinking demand for fuel-powered cars has proven to be a harsh blow for such as Volkswagen AG and Nissan Motor Corp. that for years have counted on strong demand in China to burnish their bottom lines.

They are scrambling to develop electric vehicles for the Chinese market. Honda and Nissan recently announced in part to meet the challenge of China's rising EV makers.

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Soo reported from Hong Kong.