China Car Sales Drop 0.3% in July

China's total vehicle sales fell 0.3% from a year earlier to 2.584 million units in July 2026, following a 3.2% decline in the previous month, according to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). New energy vehicle (NEV) sales soared 23.7% year-on-year to 1.561 million units in July, following 23.6% growth in June, with NEVs accounting for 60.4% of total vehicle sales, breaking the 60% mark for the first time. For the first seven months of the year, vehicle sales dropped 3.7% year-on-year, compared with a 12.0% increase in the same period last year, while NEV sales climbed 9.6% to 9.007 million units. During the period, NEV sales surpassed 50% of total new vehicle sales for the first time. Meanwhile, on a monthly basis, car sales fell 8%. Last year, China's vehicle sales grew 9.4% year-on-year to a record high of 34.4 million units, accelerating from a 4.5% rise in 2024, while NEV sales surged 28.2%.

China's total vehicle sales dropped 3.2% year-on-year to 2.81 million units in June 2026, following a 2.1% decline in the previous month, according to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). New energy vehicle (NEV) sales surged 23.6% year-on-year to 1.643 million units in June, accelerating from 14.4% growth in May, with NEVs accounting for 58.5% of total vehicle sales. For the first half of the year, vehicle sales fell 4.1% year-on-year, compared with an 11.4% increase in the same period last year, while NEV sales advanced 7.3% to 7.438 million units. During the period, NEV sales accounted for 49.6% of total new vehicle sales. However, on a monthly basis, car sales grew by 6.9%. Last year, China's vehicle sales increased 9.4% year-on-year to a record high of 34.4 million units, accelerating from a 4.5% rise in 2024, while NEV sales jumped 28.2%.

China’s total vehicle sales fell 2.1% year-on-year to 2.6299 million units in May 2026, following a 2.5% decline in the previous month, according to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). New energy vehicle (NEV) sales rose 14.4% year-on-year to 1.496 million units in May, accelerating from 9.7% growth in April, with NEVs accounting for 56.9% of total vehicle sales. Meanwhile, domestic sales plunged 20.4% year-on-year in May. In contrast, vehicle exports surged 68.7%, serving as a key driver of the sector, which has increasingly relied on overseas shipments to offset weakness in the domestic market. "Stabilizing domestic demand this year should be regarded as a very important task for the automotive industry," said Chen Shihua, deputy secretary-general of the CAAM, as Reuters reported. Last year, China’s vehicle sales increased 9.4% year-on-year to a record high of 34.4 million units, up from a 4.5% increase in 2024, while NEV sales surged 28.2%.