Chinese electric-vehicle makers extended their momentum in July, underscoring the country’s growing dominance in the global transition to battery-powered transport. Leapmotor delivered a record 50,129 cars last month, up 127% from a year earlier, while Xpeng handed over 36,717 vehicles, a 229% jump. Shanghai-based SAIC Motor said overall sales climbed 34% to 337,500 units, with new-energy vehicles rising 65% to 117,000, marking a seventh consecutive monthly gain. The strong showing came as China’s new-energy-vehicle penetration reached 44.3% in the first half, the China Machinery Industry Federation reported, setting a record for the period. Competitive pricing on models around 100,000 yuan (about US$13,900) has helped manufacturers capture budget-conscious buyers as the domestic price war moderated. Rapid uptake of electric cars is filtering through to the battery supply chain. Global battery installations for electric and hybrid vehicles rose 37.3% year on year to 504.4 GWh in the first half, according to SNE Research. China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) retained the top spot with a 37.9% share, while BYD lifted its share to 17.8%. Together, the two Chinese companies accounted for 55.7% of all batteries fitted in new vehicles during the period. South Korean suppliers lost ground despite higher absolute volumes. The combined share of LG Energy Solution, SK On and Samsung SDI fell 5.4 percentage points to 16.4%. Analysts at SNE Research said the data highlight a rapid restructuring of the supply chain as Chinese firms leverage cost advantages and scale.