Retail sales of light passenger vehicles in China, including sedans, MPVs, and SUVs, plunged by 28% year-on-year to 1.603 million units in September 2026 after rising by 6% to 2.241 million units million units in the same month last year, according to data compiled by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). This was the twelfth consecutive  month of decline for the domestic passenger vehicle market, while exports of built-up and knocked-down vehicles continued to surge – rising by 74% to 917,000 units from 528,000 units a year earlier.

Retail sales of new energy passenger vehicles (NEVs), comprising mainly battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), declined by 17% to 1,084,000 units, while sales of other passenger vehicles, including internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plunged by 43% to 519,000 units last month.

Overall retail sales of light passenger vehicles in China fell by 22% to 13.334 million units in the first nine months of 2026 after rising by over 9% to 17.031 million units in the same period last year. All major segments declined, including NEV sales which fell by 13% to 7.758 million units following the withdrawal of some government subsidies and tax exemptions, while sales of ICE and HEV passenger vehicles dropped by 31% to 5.576 million units.

Economic growth in China slowed sharply in the second quarter of 2026, to 4.3% year-on-year from 5.0% in the first quarter, with growth driven mainly by strong exports while household spending weakened. Measures introduced by the central government to boost consumer spending have been offset by rising fuel and energy prices resulting from the war in the Middle East.

Passenger vehicle exports surged by over 76% to 7.015 million units in the first nine months of the year, with NEV exports surging by 139% to 3.887 million units.

GlobalData is forecasting a 19% decline in light vehicle sales to 21.8 million units in 2026, down from 26.9 million units in 2025.