Sales of Chinese-made vehicles, including exports, declined by over 6% to 3.272 million units in December 2025, after rising by 10% to 3.489 million units a year earlier, according to passenger car and commercial vehicle wholesale data compiled by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).
Domestic sales declined by almost 16% to 2.519 million units last month, after growing by 12% to 2.985 million units a year earlier, while exports surged by over 49% to 753,000 units.
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In the whole of 2025, total sales of China-made vehicles increased by over 9% to 34.402 million units from 31.436 million units in 2024, including an almost 7% increase in domestic sales to 27.304 million units, while exports rose by 21% to 7.098 million units. Overall vehicle production in the country increased by 12% to 34.531 million units last year.
Sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) rose by 28% to 16.490 million units in 2025, accounting for 48% of total industry volumes, driven by a 38% surge in battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales to 10.622 million units, while plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) sales rose by 17% to 5.861 million units and sales of fuel-cell EVs jumped by 53% to 8,000 units. Domestic NEV sales rose by 20% to 13.875 million units last year, while exports doubled to 2.615 million units.
The domestic vehicle market last year was driven higher by increased government stimulus, including vehicle trade-in incentives and cuts in vehicle purchase taxes. The market also responded to strong price competition among domestic vehicle manufacturers and numerous new model launches in the last two years. The domestic market has lost significant momentum in recent months, however, reflecting weakening consumer and business sentiment, as well as strong year-earlier volumes.
The Chinese government confirmed it will continue its vehicle trade-in subsidy programme in 2026, as part of its broader policy of driving up overall domestic consumption. GlobalData is forecasting a 3% increase in light vehicle sales to 27.63 million units in 2026, up from 26.9 million units in 2025.
Manufacturer performances
BYD’s global sales increased by 7.7% to 4,602,436 units in 2025, with sales plunging by over 18% in December – the fourth consecutive month of decline, reflecting weakening domestic demand. Overseas sales surged by 151% to 1,046,083 units last year. Overall sales of passenger BEVs rose by 28% to 2,256,714 units, while passenger PHEV sales declined by 8% to 2,288,709 units, and commercial vehicle sales surged by 162% to 57,013 units.
SAIC Motor reported a 12% increase in global sales to 4,507,518 units in 2025, driven by 33% rise in NEV sales to 1,642,785 units. SAIC-GM-Wuling reported a 21% rise in global deliveries to 1,615,066 units, while SAIC-VW’s sales fell by 11% to 1,024,000 units. SAIC-GM’s sales rebounded by 23% to 535,000 units from weak levels previously, while the group’s SAIC Motor passenger vehicle unit reported a 25% sales increase to 886,742 units. The group’s overseas sales increased by 3% to 1,070,550 units.
Geely Auto, excluding key overseas subsidiaries and joint ventures including Volvo, Polestar and Proton, reported a 39% rise in global sales to 3,024,567 units last year, while Chery Automobile’s sales rose by 8% to 2,806,393 units, with exports increasing by 17% to 1,344,020 units. GAC Group, including its joint ventures with Toyota and Honda, reported a 14% decline to 1,721,489 units, while Great Wall Motor’s sales increased by 7% to 1,323,672 units, with overseas sales rising by 12% to 506,066 units.
Tesla’s Shanghai factory sales fell by 7% to 851,732 units last year, with retail sales in China falling by 5% to 625,698 units despite the recent launch of the revised Model Y, while exports fell by 13% to 226,034 units.
