According to the latest monthly report from the Passenger Car Association (CPCA) released September 14, 2026, August domestic narrow-sense passenger-vehicle retail sales reached 1.541 million units, down 23.6% year on year but up 5.5% month on month. NEV retail sales were 1.005 million units, with a NEV retail penetration rate of 65.2%.
Among brands, BYD, Geely and Chery ranked top three with 233,943, 170,584 and 85,499 units respectively, though all posted double-digit declines. BYD's top-selling model was the Fangchengbao Ti7 at 23,471 units; Tesla China sold 50,047 units, down 12.4%.
Li Auto and NIO both achieved growth, with Li Auto up 32.1% and NIO up 14.7% year on year, while most other top-ten brands declined. Hongmeng Zhixing (including five brands) sold 42,101 units, down 5.2%.
The data underscores intensifying competition and polarization in China's NEV market as the industry shifts from scale expansion to product-power and intelligence competition.
Source: CPCA / Sohu Auto
