Despite the development surge in new energy cars, the data also shows a continuing decline in vehicle exports during the first quarter. The total auto output and sales in the first three months both exceeded 6.5 million, a year-on-year increase of about 6%.

But auto exports continued to decline, as the volume saw over a quarter decrease from a year earlier to about 130,000. Some 87,000 passenger cars were exported, down nearly 17% compared to a year ago. 

The export volume of commercial vehicles decreased by nearly 40 percent to about 50,000.