Honda and Nissan China Sales Fall Sharply in September 2026

Honda and Nissan Report Sharp September 2026 Sales Declines in China

Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan reported substantial year-over-year sales declines in China for September 2026, highlighting continuing challenges for both manufacturers in one of the world's largest automotive markets. Honda sold 25,564 vehicles during the month, a decrease of 53.1% compared with September 2025 and its thirty-second consecutive month of year-over-year decline. Nissan reported September sales of 23,658 units, down 61.6% year over year, marking its sixth consecutive monthly decline. Both companies are experiencing pressure as vehicle demand weakens and China's market increasingly favors new energy vehicles. Their latest results also underline the importance of adapting product strategies to changing consumer preferences.

Honda September Sales Fall 53.1% Year Over Year

Honda's September 2026 sales in China totaled 25,564 units, representing a 53.1% year-over-year decrease. The decline extended the company's streak of monthly year-over-year sales reductions to 32 consecutive months. Honda's cumulative performance was also weak: sales for January through September reached 283,183 units, down 39.5% compared with the corresponding period a year earlier. These figures show that the decline extends beyond a single month and continues to affect the company's annual performance in China. Honda has maintained that its transition toward new energy vehicles remains unchanged, even as its existing sales mix continues to rely heavily on internal combustion engine vehicles.

GAC Honda and Dongfeng Honda Record Lower Sales

Honda's two Chinese joint-venture operations both reported significant declines in September 2026. GAC Honda sold 12,201 vehicles during the month, down 56.9% year over year. Its year-to-date sales fell 48.5% to 126,014 units. Dongfeng Honda sold 13,363 vehicles in September, a 49.1% decline compared with the same month a year earlier. Its year-to-date total reached 157,169 units, down 29.5%. The figures show that both operations faced substantial pressure, although their reported monthly and cumulative declines differed. Together, their results account for Honda's broader sales challenges in China and illustrate the weakness across its local manufacturing and sales operations.

China's Shift Toward New Energy Vehicles Adds Pressure on Honda

Rising oil prices have further boosted demand for new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China, according to the supplied report. This shift creates additional pressure for Honda because its sales remain heavily weighted toward internal combustion engine vehicles. As Chinese consumers increasingly consider NEVs, automakers with product portfolios concentrated on conventional powertrains face a need to respond to changing market demand. Honda stated that its shift toward NEVs remains unchanged, signaling that the company continues to pursue its existing transition. However, the reported sales figures demonstrate the scale of its current challenge. The available information does not specify a revised timetable, additional investment, or new NEV launch targets for Honda in China.

Nissan China Sales Drop 61.6% in September

On October 16, Nissan announced that its September 2026 sales in China fell 61.6% year over year to 23,658 units. The result marked the company's sixth consecutive month of year-over-year sales decline. Within its local operations, Dongfeng Nissan sold 18,932 vehicles during September, while Zhengzhou Nissan recorded 4,726 units. Nissan also said that weak domestic demand and declining vehicle sales in China had significantly affected the company. The statement identifies the domestic market environment as an important challenge for the automaker. Although the supplied figures establish the scale of September's decline, they do not provide Nissan's year-to-date sales total or a detailed breakdown of the factors behind the monthly result.

Nissan Expands Its Chinese NEV Lineup With the Updated N7

Alongside its sales challenges, Nissan is continuing to introduce new energy vehicles to China and strengthen its product lineup. In September 2026, Dongfeng Nissan introduced an updated version of the N7 battery-electric sedan. LiDAR technology is available on certain variants, according to the supplied report; it is not identified as standard equipment across the entire model range. The update represents a product-development step as Nissan seeks to broaden its presence in China's NEV market. The available information does not specify the revised sedan's price, battery capacity, driving range, charging performance, or sales targets. It therefore establishes the model update and the availability of LiDAR on selected variants without supporting further claims about its technical specifications or expected commercial performance.

Honda and Nissan Face Different NEV Transition Challenges

The September results reveal a difficult sales environment for both Japanese automakers, alongside their efforts to respond to China's changing vehicle market. Honda's reported challenge is closely linked to its continued reliance on internal combustion engine vehicles while NEV demand gains momentum. Nissan is also experiencing a steep sales decline, but its introduction of the updated N7 battery-electric sedan demonstrates an ongoing effort to expand its electric offering. The available figures do not establish that either company's product strategy caused its entire sales decline, nor do they provide enough detail to compare the companies' overall NEV sales. Their next results will help show whether continued product development and portfolio changes coincide with an improvement in market performance.

Industry Impact & Outlook

The sustained declines reported by Honda and Nissan underscore the competitive pressure facing established foreign automakers in China as demand shifts toward new energy vehicles and local market conditions remain challenging. Honda's continued reliance on internal combustion engine models makes the pace and execution of its stated NEV transition particularly important, while Nissan's updated N7 illustrates its effort to strengthen its battery-electric offering. Dealers, suppliers, and manufacturing partners connected to these operations may be affected if weak sales persist, although the supplied information does not quantify such effects. Future sales announcements and further product developments will provide clearer evidence of whether the companies can respond effectively to changing demand and stabilize their positions in the Chinese market.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many vehicles did Honda sell in China in September 2026?
Honda sold 25,564 vehicles in China in September 2026, representing a 53.1% decline compared with the same month a year earlier. The result marked the company's thirty-second consecutive month of year-over-year sales decline. Honda's year-to-date sales through September totaled 283,183 units, down 39.5% year over year. The reported figures cover Honda's overall China sales and include the results of its GAC Honda and Dongfeng Honda operations. They indicate that the company's sales difficulties continued during the month and across the first nine months of the year.

What were GAC Honda's and Dongfeng Honda's September 2026 sales?
GAC Honda sold 12,201 vehicles in September 2026, while Dongfeng Honda sold 13,363 vehicles in China during the same month. GAC Honda's sales declined 56.9% year over year, and its year-to-date sales fell 48.5% to 126,014 units. Dongfeng Honda recorded a 49.1% year-over-year monthly decline, while its year-to-date total decreased 29.5% to 157,169 units. These figures show that both operations experienced significant sales pressure, although the scale of their monthly and cumulative declines differed.

Why is China's NEV market important to Honda's sales performance?
China's growing demand for new energy vehicles is creating additional pressure for Honda because its sales remain heavily weighted toward internal combustion engine vehicles. The supplied report notes that rising oil prices have further boosted NEV demand in the country. This market shift makes Honda's transition toward new energy vehicles increasingly relevant to its competitive position. Honda has stated that its shift toward NEVs remains unchanged, but the report does not provide a revised transition schedule, investment figure, or specific launch target for the Chinese market.

How many vehicles did Nissan sell in China in September 2026?
Nissan sold 23,658 vehicles in China in September 2026, a 61.6% decrease compared with September 2025. The result marked the company's sixth consecutive month of year-over-year sales decline. Dongfeng Nissan contributed 18,932 units, while Zhengzhou Nissan sold 4,726 units during the month. Nissan said weak domestic demand and declining vehicle sales in China had significantly affected the company. The supplied report does not provide Nissan's year-to-date total or a detailed numerical breakdown of the causes behind its September decline.

What is new about the updated Nissan N7 electric sedan?
Dongfeng Nissan introduced an updated version of the N7 battery-electric sedan in September 2026 as part of its efforts to strengthen its new energy vehicle lineup in China. LiDAR technology is available on certain variants, rather than being identified as standard equipment across the entire range. The supplied report does not specify the updated model's price, battery capacity, driving range, charging speed, or performance figures. The confirmed details are the September introduction, the sedan's battery-electric powertrain, and the availability of LiDAR on selected variants.

What do the September 2026 sales results mean for Honda and Nissan in China?
The results show that both automakers continue to face substantial sales challenges in China, with Honda recording a prolonged decline and Nissan reporting a sharp year-over-year drop. Honda says its NEV transition remains unchanged, while Nissan is expanding its electric offering through the updated N7 sedan. These developments indicate that product adaptation is an important part of both companies' responses to the market. However, the supplied information does not establish when sales might recover or whether either company's current measures will reverse the declines. Future sales reports and product announcements will provide further evidence.