Business · Trade · 5 hrs ago
China car sales fall 28% in September despite export growth
Retail sales of passenger cars in China fell 28% from a year earlier in September, to 1.62 million vehicles, according to the China Passenger Car Association.
Sales were up 5% from August, but the market has now declined for 12 months in a row.
The group said weaker demand for fuel-powered cars, high oil prices and cautious consumers weighed on sales.
Higher memory-chip costs have also delayed new vehicle launches.
Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles made up a record 67% of sales, although sales in that category also fell, by 17%.
Exports offered a brighter spot: passenger-car exports rose 74% to 917,000, and exports of new-energy vehicles more than doubled.
The association does not expect a strong rebound in October, citing weak consumer confidence and price competition, and it expects trade pressures in the European Union to slow exports.
China’s passenger-car retail sales fell 28% year on year in September to 1.62 million units, the China Passenger Car Association said.
Sales rose 5% from August, but the market showed no clear sign of recovery after 12 consecutive months of year-on-year declines.
The association attributed the decline to weaker demand for traditional fuel-powered vehicles, high oil prices and soft consumer spending.
New-energy vehicles made up a record 67% of total sales, although their retail sales fell 17% to 1.08 million.
Passenger-car exports rose 74% to 917,000 units as Chinese manufacturers sought growth abroad.
- Who
- China’s passenger-car market; the China Passenger Car Association reported the figures.
- What
- Retail sales fell 28% year on year to 1.62 million units in September.
- When
- September; the figures were reported on October 12, 2026.
- Where
- China.
- Why
- The association cited weaker demand for traditional fuel-powered vehicles, high oil prices and a weaker consumer environment.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
No direct quotes in the coverage so far.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- September passenger-car retail sales
- 1.62 million units
- Year-on-year change
- Down 28%
- Month-on-month change
- Up 5%
- New-energy vehicle share
- Record 67% of total sales
- Passenger-car exports
- Up 74% to 917,000 units
Sources
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