China NEV Retail Sales Fall 13% in October as Wholesale Rises

China NEV Retail Sales Decline 13% in Early October

Retail sales of passenger new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China reached 520,000 units between October 1 and 18, 2026, falling 13% year over year and 2% compared with the same period in September, according to data released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). Cumulative NEV retail sales for the year reached 8.278 million units, down 13% from the corresponding period a year earlier. The figures show continued weakness in consumer-facing NEV sales during the first 18 days of October, even as wholesale deliveries recorded growth over the same period.

The 13% year-over-year decline in NEV retail sales was unchanged from the first 11 days of October. September had already recorded a 16.7% annual decline, marking the ninth consecutive month of year-over-year decreases. If retail sales do not return to growth for October as a whole, the market will record a tenth consecutive month of annual declines. The early-October figures therefore leave the monthly outcome unresolved, with the remaining days needed to establish whether the prolonged downward trend continues.

NEV Share of Passenger Car Retail Sales Reaches 65.9%

NEVs accounted for 65.9% of passenger car retail sales in China from October 1 to 18. This was higher than the 61.2% share recorded during the first 11 days of October, but remained below September's record level of 67.0%. The figures indicate that NEVs continued to represent a substantial portion of passenger car purchases despite declining retail volumes. However, the higher share compared with the first part of October does not mean that NEV sales increased in absolute terms, as reported retail sales remained lower than a year earlier.

NEV Wholesale Sales Rise 5% Year Over Year

Wholesale sales of NEVs by automakers totaled 655,000 units during October 1–18, increasing 5% year over year and 1% compared with the same period in September. Cumulative NEV wholesale sales reached 12.1 million units year to date, up 9% from the previous year. NEVs represented 76.8% of passenger car wholesale sales during the first 18 days of October, compared with 78.1% in the first 11 days. The contrast between rising wholesale volumes and falling retail sales highlights a difference between manufacturers' reported shipments and sales to consumers.

China Passenger Car Retail Sales Remain Under Pressure

Total passenger car retail sales in China stood at 789,000 units between October 1 and 18, down 26% year over year but up 2% compared with the same period in September. Year-to-date passenger car retail sales reached 14.12 million units, a 22% annual decline. The broader market's contraction was therefore steeper than the 13% decline recorded for NEV retail sales during the same October period. These figures provide context for the NEV results: although NEVs maintained a majority share of retail sales, the overall passenger car market continued to experience a substantial drop in consumer-facing volume.

Weekly Passenger Car Retail Sales Show Uneven Performance

Retail sales changed considerably across the first three reporting periods of October. From October 1 to 7, average daily passenger car retail sales were 32,651 units, down 25% year over year and 10% compared with the same period in September. Between October 8 and 11, the daily average rose to 57,589 units, remaining 22% below the previous year but increasing 32% from the comparable September period. From October 12 to 18, the daily average was 47,109 units, down 29% year over year and 5% from the same period in September. The third week's annual decline was the steepest reported so far that month.

Passenger Car Wholesale Sales Fall 20% Year Over Year

Wholesale sales by Chinese passenger car manufacturers totaled 853,000 units from October 1 to 18, down 20% year over year and 3% compared with the same period in September. Cumulative wholesale sales reached 20.59 million units year to date, representing a 6% annual decline. These results show that weakness extended beyond consumer retail transactions to manufacturers' wholesale sales across the wider passenger car market. The wholesale decline for all passenger cars also contrasts with the 5% year-over-year increase in NEV wholesale sales, indicating that NEVs performed differently from the overall market in the reported period.

Weekly Passenger Car Wholesale Sales Vary Across October

Average daily wholesale sales for the first week of October, covering October 1–7, were 20,582 units, down 32% year over year and 44% compared with the same period in September. From October 8 to 11, the daily average increased to 60,246 units, a 7% annual decline but a 23% increase against the corresponding September period. Between October 12 and 18, average daily wholesale sales reached 66,799 units, down 22% year over year but up 11% compared with the same period in September. The weekly figures show substantial variation within the month, although wholesale volumes remained below year-earlier levels in each reported period.

October 2026 Passenger Car and NEV Sales Figures

The CPCA figures distinguish retail sales to consumers from wholesale sales reported by automakers. They also provide year-to-date totals and market-share measures, allowing early-October performance to be compared across the NEV segment and the broader passenger car market. The following table consolidates the key reported figures for October 1–18 and the year to date. Daily averages are shown separately where the source provides them, while percentage changes retain their reported comparison periods. The source text ends during the final weekly wholesale-sales comparison, so no additional figures beyond the available information are included.

Key Sales Data Reported by CPCA

Industry Impact & Outlook

The October figures point to a challenging demand environment for China's passenger car industry, with retail sales falling across the overall market and NEVs while NEV wholesale sales continued to grow. For automakers, the difference between retail and wholesale performance makes it important to distinguish shipments from consumer purchases when assessing market momentum. NEVs' 65.9% retail share shows their continuing importance within the passenger car market, but the lower absolute sales volume and prolonged year-over-year decline remain significant indicators. The full-month October results will determine whether NEV retail sales record a tenth consecutive month of annual declines, while the available data do not establish the causes of the downturn.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many NEVs were sold at retail in China from October 1 to 18, 2026?
China recorded 520,000 passenger new energy vehicle retail sales between October 1 and 18, 2026, according to figures released by the China Passenger Car Association. The total was 13% lower than the same period a year earlier and 2% below the corresponding period in September. Year-to-date NEV retail sales reached 8.278 million units, also down 13% year over year. The figures cover passenger NEVs and should not be confused with automakers' wholesale sales, which increased during the same reporting period.

What share of China's passenger car retail sales came from NEVs?
NEVs represented 65.9% of China's passenger car retail sales from October 1 to 18, 2026, according to the reported CPCA data. This was higher than the 61.2% share recorded during the first 11 days of October but below September's record share of 67.0%. The percentage measures NEVs' share of passenger car retail sales rather than a change in the number of vehicles sold. NEV retail volume still declined 13% year over year during the first 18 days of October.

Did China's NEV wholesale sales increase in early October?
Yes. Automakers' NEV wholesale sales reached 655,000 units between October 1 and 18, 2026, increasing 5% year over year and 1% compared with the same period in September. Cumulative NEV wholesale sales reached 12.1 million units year to date, up 9% annually. NEVs accounted for 76.8% of passenger car wholesale sales during the first 18 days of October. These wholesale figures differ from retail sales, which measure consumer-facing transactions and declined 13% year over year in the same period.

How did total passenger car retail sales perform in China?
Total passenger car retail sales in China reached 789,000 units from October 1 to 18, 2026, down 26% year over year but up 2% compared with the same period in September. Year-to-date retail sales totaled 14.12 million units, representing a 22% annual decline. The overall market's decline was steeper than the 13% drop in NEV retail sales during the October reporting period. Despite NEVs' majority share of passenger car retail sales, the reported figures show that the broader market remained under considerable pressure.

Which October week recorded the steepest year-over-year decline in daily retail sales?
The period from October 12 to 18 recorded the steepest year-over-year decline in daily passenger car retail sales among the three reported periods. Average daily retail sales reached 47,109 units, down 29% from the same period a year earlier and 5% compared with the corresponding period in September. In the first week, the daily average was 32,651 units, down 25% year over year. From October 8 to 11, it reached 57,589 units, down 22% annually but up 32% from the comparable September period.

What were China's passenger car wholesale sales in the first 18 days of October?
Chinese passenger car manufacturers recorded 853,000 wholesale sales from October 1 to 18, 2026, a 20% year-over-year decline and a 3% decrease compared with the same period in September. Year-to-date passenger car wholesale sales reached 20.59 million units, down 6% annually. Average daily wholesale sales varied across the reported weeks, from 20,582 units in October 1–7 to 60,246 units in October 8–11 and 66,799 units in October 12–18. Each period remained below its year-earlier level.