BEIJING, July 11 -- China's new energy vehicle (NEV) sales surged 44.1 percent year on year to nearly 3.75 million units in the first half of 2023, data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showed Tuesday.

NEV sales in June stood at 806,000 units, increasing 35.2 percent from a year ago.

The output of NEVs in the country totaled nearly 3.79 million units in the first six months, expanding 42.4 percent year on year, the data revealed.

Data also showed that China exported a total of 534,000 NEVs in the first half, expanding 160 percent year on year.

Building on the robust growth momentum, China has stepped up policy support in its NEV sector, particularly in its vast rural areas.

In May, China released a guideline to support people living in rural areas to purchase and use NEVs, with a focus on boosting the construction of charging infrastructure.