On July 14, CAAM Aftermarket Branch issued a clarification statement, noting that some media confused "average vehicle age in use" with "vehicle replacement cycle," causing public misinterpretation. The 1.8-year average reflects structural characteristics of the industry's current transition phase.
Event Background
Recently, reports claiming "NEV average age is only 1.8 years," "consumers replace EVs every 3-5 years," and "NEVs are replaced faster than smartphones" sparked heated discussions on social media. On July 14, CAAM Aftermarket Branch urgently issued a clarification statement.
Three Core Concepts Explained
The statement clarified the essential distinctions among three core concepts:
- "Average vehicle age in use": The average time since new vehicle sale for all existing NEVs as of end-2025, equivalent to "average age" in population statistics
- "Vehicle replacement cycle": The average interval between a customer's purchase and their active decision to replace the vehicle
- "Average vehicle service life": The average time from sale to scrapping
These three metrics have completely different statistical definitions and cannot be derived from or substituted for one another.
Data Interpretation
Analysis of the core reasons for the age difference between NEVs and traditional vehicles:
- NEV adoption history is relatively short, with sustained high-speed sales growth in recent years
- Annual NEV retail sales exceeded 12.8 million units in 2025, with new additions accounting for nearly 30% of the existing fleet
- A large number of newly registered vehicles have been on the road for less than a year, combined with historically small existing EV stock, directly pulling down the overall average age
| Vehicle Type | Average Age in Use | Core Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional ICE vehicles | ~8.2 years | Mature stock market for many years |
| New Energy Vehicles | ~1.8 years | Explosive recent sales growth, high proportion of new additions |
Impact and Insights
CAAM Aftermarket Branch apologized for insufficient data annotation and emphasized:
- Data on "vehicle replacement cycle" and "average vehicle lifespan" should be based on official statistical definitions
- Media and the public must clearly identify applicable scope of industry data indicators
For automotive professionals and consumers in Central Asia and Russia, this incident conveys an important message: the average age of 1.8 years precisely demonstrates the explosive growth and vibrant market vitality of China's NEV sector, not product quality issues. Chinese automakers' continuous progress in battery technology, intelligent driving, and overall vehicle quality has already made their products competitive with international brands. On EX1000.COM, you can access professional information about the reliability and after-sales support of Chinese NEV models.
