Unfinished business

ARE WE SEEING the beginning of the end of plug-in hybrids? China has been leading the world in PHEV production and sales, accounting for 76% of the global total in 2025. But this year something weird has been happening.

- NICK GIBBS

The overall car market in China has been slowing, with retail sales down 20% in April. The local China Passenger Car Association attributed the fall to rising oil prices as buyers gave petrol cars a swerve. But also hit hard are PHEVS and range-extender EVs, down 22% on the same month last year, reducing their share to 19%. Meanwhile, sales of pure EVs were up 2.4%, raising their share to 40%.