By March 2021, China’s motor vehicle ownership reached 378 million, with 463 million motorists, according to the Ministry of Public Security. In the first quarter of 2021, there were 9.66 million newly registered motor vehicles and 8.39 million newly licensed drivers nationwide.

In the first quarter, 9.66 million new vehicles were registered nationwide, an increase of 3.886 million or 67.31% over the same period last year. Compared with the first quarter of 2019, it increased by 2.339 million units, an increase of 31.96%. In terms of models, 2.03 million motorcycles were newly registered, 954,000 units more than that of the same period last year, an increase of 88.63%. Compared with the first quarter of 2019, it increased by 1.077 million units, an increase of 113.08%.

As of March, car parc of 72 cities (five more than the same period last year) exceeded 1 million, and 16 cities exceeded 3 million. Among them, 33 cities have a car parc more than 2 million units and 16 cities more than 3 million units. Car ownership in Beijing exceeded 6 million, that in Chengdu and Chongqing exceeded 5 million, and Suzhou, Shanghai and Zhengzhou exceeded 4 million.

As of March, the number of passenger vehicles in China was 248 million. In the first quarter, new registrations of passenger vehicles were 6.43 million, increasing by 2.373 million or 58.53% compared with the same period last year; that’s an increase of 946,000 units or 17.26% compared with the first quarter of 2019. In the first quarter, 1.03 million trucks were newly registered, an increase of 517,000 or 100.99% compared with the same period last year; 279,000 units or 37.12% were added compared to the first quarter of 2019.

By the end of March, the number of new energy vehicles in China had reached 5.51 million. Among them, there were 4.49 million pure electric vehicles, accounting for 81.53% of the total number of new energy vehicles. In the first quarter, 466,000 new energy vehicles were newly registered, an increase of 348,000 units or 295.20% compared with the same period last year; compared with the first quarter of 2019, it increased by 216,000 units or 86.76%. New energy vehicle registrations accounted for 6.21% of total new vehicle registrations.

The number of motor vehicle drivers in China reached 463 million, among which 425 million were automobile drivers, accounting for 91.86% of the total. In the first quarter of 2021, the number of newly licensed drivers nationwide was 8.39 million, an increase of 5.386 million or 178.99% compared with the same period last year; that’s an increase of 387,000 or 4.83% compared with the first quarter of 2019.

Online vehicle and driving license applications reached 21.803 million, up 154.50% year on year. (Source: CCCM)