China’s September Vehicle Sales Fall 8.4% Year on Year

what happened

China’s total vehicle sales declined 8.4% year on year to 2.956 million units in September 2026, after falling 5.1% in August. Trading Economics, citing data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), reported that sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) nevertheless rose 13.6% to 1.823 million units. NEV sales had increased 17.8% in August.

NEVs represented 61.6% of total vehicle sales, marking the third consecutive month in which their share topped 60%. In the first nine months of the year, overall vehicle sales decreased 4.5% from a year earlier, while NEV sales climbed 11.1% to 12.47 million units. NEVs accounted for 53.6% of new vehicle sales, remaining above 50% for a third straight month. Total vehicle sales rose 9% from the previous month.

China’s vehicle sales increased 9.4% in 2025 to a record 34.4 million units, following 4.5% growth in 2024. NEV sales surged 28.2% last year.

why it matters

The figures highlight a widening gap between China’s overall auto market and its NEV segment. For automakers, the data point to the continued shift in the composition of vehicle demand toward new energy vehicles.

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