China’s EV and Other Battery Output Rises 38% YoY in May as Vehicle Installation Ratio Continues to Decline

In May, China's combined output of power and other batteries reached 19.2 GWh, up 38% year-on-year; cumulative production from January to May totaled 86.3 GWh, an increase of 30% year-on-year. Compared with the previous growth rate exceeding 69%, the current pace of battery production growth has clearly slowed, primarily due to weak demand for traction batteries. In May 2026, lithium-ion battery installations in vehicles amounted to 7.2 GWh, up 26% year-on-year; cumulative installations from January to May reached 25.9 GWh, rising 7% year-on-year. In 2025, 44% of traction battery production was used for vehicle installations, but by May 2026, this share had declined to 38%. Among them, installation rates for ternary batteries and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries stood at 38% and 37%, respectively. Currently, the energy density of mainstream batteries for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) is concentrated in the range of 125–160 Wh/kg. From April to May 2026, batteries with energy densities between 140 and 160 Wh/kg accounted for 46% of the market, an increase of 14 percentage points year-on-year.