China automakers issue clarification on NEV service life

The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, or CAAM, issued a statement on Tuesday after some media misread figures from its 2025 China Automotive Aftermarket Annual Development Report.

The report showed that conventional passenger vehicles in operation had an average age of about 8.2 years by the end of 2025, while the average age of New Energy Vehicles, or NEVs, stood at about 1.8 years.

In its statement, the association emphasized that the figure refers to the average age of NEVs currently in operation — measured from the time they were first sold — rather than their service life or the average replacement cycle. 

"The data does not mean owners replace their vehicles after an average of 1.8 years, nor does it indicate that the average service life of NEVs is 1.8 years," the association said.

As a result, conclusions drawn by some reports suggesting that NEVs are being replaced after just 1.8 years are based on a misunderstanding of the statistical concept, it added.

The figures are consistent with market realities, given the relatively short history of large-scale NEV adoption and the rapid growth in new vehicle registrations in recent years, the CAAM stated.

lijiaying@chinadaily.com.cn