BEIJING — Sales of new energy vehicles (NEV) in China increased by 3.2 times year-on-year in the first two months amid the steady recovery of market demand, data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showed on March 10.

In January and February, NEV sales amounted to 289,000 units. In February alone, NEV sales surged 5.8 times year-on-year to reach 110,000 units, the data showed.

The association, though attributing the surge to the low base last year due to the impact of COVID-19, said the NEV sector maintained its large scale by setting new records in production, sales and exports for the month of February.

China will further promote NEVs' high-quality development by advancing the integration of technologies such as electrification and intelligent networking, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

In recent years, China has issued more than 60 supportive policies and measures for the development of the NEV industry and has achieved positive results and breakthroughs, said Xiao Yaqing, minister of the MIIT.