Cui Dongshu, Secretary General of the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), released an analysis report on the market trends of automobile segments in March 2026 and the competitive performance of manufacturers. Data shows that total automobile sales in March reached 2.89 million units, a year-on-year decrease of 0.1%. From January to March 2026, cumulative automobile sales totaled 7.05 million units, a cumulative decline of 5%. Although this performance could not match the high base of the same period in 2025, the overall trend remained stable against the backdrop of tightened pro-consumption policies. Monthly automobile sales trends over the years The automobile export market continued to strengthen in March. In 2026, exports accounted for 32% of total sales, a significant increase from 19% in 2025. In terms of automaker performance, in the first quarter of 2026, Chery Automobile led with 391,000 units exported, with exports accounting for 65% of its sales. BYD exported 321,000 units, with exports accounting for 46%. Geely Auto exported 203,000 units, with exports accounting for 28%. Looking at changes in export share, the internationalization strategies of leading automakers have achieved notable results. SAIC Passenger Vehicle saw exports account for 76% of its sales, reaching as high as 82% in February. Spotlight Automotive (a joint venture between BMW and Great Wall Motor) maintained a stable export share between 60% and 81%. JAC Motors kept its export share between 53% and 61%. These figures also reflect that the “dual-engine drive at home and abroad” strategy of many Chinese automakers is gradually entering a harvest period. Sales trends of auto manufacturers in 2025–2026 The report emphasizes that the performance of China’s major automaker groups is now clearly diverging. Since 2025, a trend of “private enterprises replacing state-owned enterprises” as the industry’s main force has emerged, with Geely, BYD, Chery, and Great Wall maintaining relatively high growth rates. Despite the overall market downturn in the first quarter of 2026, SAIC, Geely, Dongfeng, and BAIC performed relatively strongly from January to March, showing improving growth rates. Sales and market share performance of auto groups in January–March 2026 Looking at the overall performance of the passenger car market, current characteristics include slowing growth of new energy vehicle (NEV) models and a continued decline in the market share of fuel-powered vehicles. Data shows that passenger car sales in March reached 2.38 million units, down 2% year-on-year. Cumulative sales from January to March reached 5.87 million units, down 7% year-on-year. Looking at specific automaker performance, BYD ranked first with 295,700 units sold, but saw a year-on-year decline of 20%. Geely Auto followed (233,000 units), with stable market performance. Chery Auto sold 232,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 13%, leading in growth rate. Monthly sales trends of new energy passenger vehicles over the years In the NEV sector, total sales of NEV manufacturers in March reached 1.14 million units, up 1% year-on-year. Cumulative sales from January to March reached 2.73 million units, down 4% year-on-year. In stark contrast, as oil prices rise, sales of traditional fuel vehicles have declined significantly, with cumulative sales from January to March reaching 3.14 million units, down 9% year-on-year. Overall, the 2026 automobile market is expected to continue the development trend of “stable total volume, optimized structure”, with exports continuing to serve as an engine for sales growth.
