An MG hatchback with racing-inspired styling on display at the Beijing Auto Show in April 2026. Credit: CnEVPost.
- NEV retail sales totaled 596,000 from September 1-20, accounting for 67.9% of passenger car retail sales.
- Overall passenger car retail sales fell 22% over the same period as sales of gasoline-powered vehicles continued to slump.
China’s retail sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) fell in the first 20 days of September but continued to outperform the broader market as gasoline-powered vehicles suffered a steeper decline.
Retail sales of passenger NEVs totaled 596,000 from September 1-20, down 9% year-on-year but up 14% from the same period last month, according to data released Wednesday by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).
Year-to-date retail sales of passenger NEVs came in at 7.27 million units, down 12% year-on-year.
NEVs accounted for 67.9% of passenger car retail sales from September 1-20.
Over the same period, wholesale NEV sales by China’s passenger car manufacturers totaled 740,000, up 8% year-on-year and 25% from the same period last month.
Year-to-date wholesale NEV sales were 10.518 million, up 9% year-on-year.
NEVs accounted for 73.9% of passenger car wholesale sales from September 1-20.
The broader auto market remained under pressure. China’s passenger car retail sales totaled 878,000 from September 1-20, down 22% year-on-year but up 8% from the same period last month.
Year-to-date passenger car retail sales reached 12.59 million, down 21% year-on-year.
In the first week of September, from September 1-6, daily retail sales averaged 35,050, down 19% year-on-year and 1% from the same period in August.
In the second week, from September 7-13, daily retail sales averaged 43,515, down 26% year-on-year but up 8% from the same period in August.
In the third week, from September 14-20, daily retail sales averaged 51,824, down 20% year-on-year but up 13% from the same period in August.
Total wholesale sales by passenger car manufacturers reached 1.001 million from September 1-20, down 19% year-on-year but up 21% from the same period last month.
Year-to-date passenger car wholesale sales reached 18.18 million, down 6% year-on-year.
From September 1-6, daily wholesale sales averaged 34,532, down 21% year-on-year but up 13% from the same period last month.
From September 7-13, daily wholesale sales averaged 49,025, down 23% year-on-year but up 28% from the same period last month.
From September 14-20, daily wholesale sales averaged 64,398, down 14% year-on-year but up 20% from the same period last month.
Conventional fuel-powered vehicles were the main drag. Nationwide production of light vehicles powered solely by internal combustion engines totaled 330,000 in the first 3 weeks of September, down 52% year-on-year despite a 47% increase from the same period last month.
Combined production of conventional hybrids and plug-in hybrids totaled 265,000 over the period, down 23% year-on-year but up 21% from the same period last month.
This year’s “Golden September” is no longer delivering broad-based gains across the market, the CPCA said.
In previous years, demand from first-time buyers and those replacing their vehicles rose together, benefiting both gasoline-powered vehicles and NEVs. This year, automakers are competing for a limited pool of demand, with gains concentrated almost entirely in NEVs, the CPCA noted.
Passenger NEV retail sales are expected to rise about 10.5% in September from August, with their share of total passenger car sales reaching 65.7%.
