This paper uses the trade data of new energy vehicles from 2017 to 2022 in the United Nations Trade Statistics Database to explore the evolutionary characteristics and driving mechanisms of the global trade network of new energy vehicles. The research finds that the scope of the global trade network of new energy vehicles is increasingly complex, with trade connections becoming closer and more efficient. Cooperation within regions has significantly increased and shows a diversified development trend. However, there are still asymmetrical trade relations, and non-closed-loop motifs account for a large proportion. In recent years, China’s position and influence in the global trade network of new energy vehicles have significantly improved, with its trade participation mode mainly being exports. Endogenous mechanisms such as the reciprocal effect, agglomeration effect, transmission effect, and time structure effect, as well as exogenous mechanisms such as economic development level and business freedom, complement each other and jointly promote the evolution of the trade network of new energy vehicles. Based on this, in the future, China’s new energy vehicles should continuously strengthen the importance of nodes, optimize the security of the trade network, and enhance the connectivity of the trade network, this will promote the high-quality development of China’s new energy vehicle trade.