China April Power Battery Output Hits 184 GWh, Installation Rate Slips to 34%

Takeaways by AI

China's power battery output rose 34% YoY to 184 GWh in April while vehicle installation rate plunged to 34%.
Global energy-storage demand and exports diverted capacity from EVs, dragging down BEV and PHEV installations.
CATL tightened dominance with ~47% overall share and 76% in key segments as rivals fell back.

China’s power battery install rate fell to 34% in April, hitting a historic low despite rising output, according to data from CPCA secretary Cui Dongshu.

A table showing monthly and cumulative production quantities of lithium-ion batteries, including both power and three-dimensional battery types, alongside growth rates for various battery categories from December 2020 to April 2026. — Battery output for different battery types from December 2020 to April 2026

Total power and other battery output reached 184 GWh in April, up 34% YoY; cumulative output for January to April stood at 671 GWh, up 28%.

The share of batteries installed in vehicles dropped from 44% in 2025 to 34% in April 2026; ternary batteries recorded 36%, LFP at 33%, signaling weak automotive demand.

Data table showing electric vehicle battery installations and growth rates for different months and years, including values for December 2021 through April 2026. — Battery installation for different battery types from December 2020 to April 2026

Rapid growth in global energy storage demand diverted capacity away from EVs; the energy crisis linked to the Russia-Ukraine conflict accelerated this shift. Battery exports now act as a key variable shaping domestic supply-demand balance.

In terms of terminal market, China recorded 895,000 NEV installations in April, down 14% YoY; BEV passenger cars fell 16% to 536,000 units, PHEVs dropped 18% to 280,000 units. Electric trucks stood at 65,000 units, showing divergence across segments.

From January to April, total battery installations rose 15%; commercial vehicles led growth. Electric trucks surged 61% in April, emerging as a rare growth driver.

Table displaying electric vehicle battery usage (MWh) across various categories from 2020 to 2026, including electric passenger cars, hybrid passenger cars, and fuel cell vehicles, with monthly and yearly growth rates. — EV battery installations across various vehicle types from 2020 to 2026

Battery application structure remains stable. BEV passenger cars rank first; electric trucks move to second; PHEVs rank third, followed by PHEV special vehicles and electric buses.

Technology metrics improved. Vehicles with energy density above 160Wh/kg accounted for 10%, up from 6% a year earlier; low-end products below 125Wh/kg fell to zero, indicating capacity clearance.

Market concentration remains high. CATL held 47.1% share in Q2, followed by BYD at 17%, with combined share nearing 65%. Second-tier players Gotion, CALB, EVE Energy posted 6.6%, 6.3%, 5.0% respectively.

A color-coded table displaying data on electric vehicle battery market share from 2020 to 2026, including percentages for various manufacturers. — Market share of different battery enterprises from 2020 to 2026

In LFP batteries, CATL extended its lead with 40.5% share; BYD fell to 21.2%, down 5.6 percentage points YoY.

In ternary batteries, BYD’s shift toward LFP benefited CATL, SVOLT, CALB and LG. Market share tilted further toward leading players; CATL held 76.4% share, peaking at 82.4% in Q2.