Humanoid robots work on a production line at a new energy vehicle factory in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, on March 1. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Zhejiang province's auto industry kept a steady pace in the first quarter of 2025, fueled by a surge in new energy vehicles (NEVs), according to the Economy and Information Technology Department of Zhejiang.

From January to March, Zhejiang produced 388,000 vehicles and sold 406,000, up 9.1 percent and 13.9 percent year-on-year. March alone saw production rise 52.8 percent from February and 19.7 percent from a year earlier. Sales in March jumped 34.4 percent month-on-month and 19.9 percent year-on-year.

Zhejiang produced and sold 224,000 new energy passenger vehicles in the first quarter, up 49.8 percent and 61.9 percent. NEVs now account for 58 percent of the province's car output, 15.9 percentage points higher than last year. Zhejiang contributed 7.0 percent of the country's NEV production and 7.3 percent of its sales.

Geely Holding Group sold 947,000 vehicles worldwide in the first quarter, up 31 percent, staying above 900,000 units for a second straight quarter. Leapmotor posted standout growth, producing 90,000 vehicles and selling 91,000 — up 132.2 percent and 183.9 percent. In March alone, Leapmotor delivered 37,000 vehicles, a 154 percent surge, topping the new energy startup rankings of China.