According to National Bureau of Statistics data cited by the National Business Daily on September 16, total retail sales of consumer goods reached 32,756.9 billion yuan in the first eight months, up just 1.1% year on year, with the auto category at 2,580.5 billion yuan, down 13.9%. In August alone, auto retail was 327.9 billion yuan, down 18.5%. An NBS official noted that exports of green products such as NEVs and lithium batteries grew fast, strongly supporting the global green transition.
On the supply side, the China Automotive Battery Innovation Alliance reported August power-battery installations of 79.0 GWh, up 26.3% year on year (5.9% month on month): ternary batteries 11.0 GWh (14.0% share, +0.9%), LFP batteries 67.6 GWh (85.6% share, +31.0%). Cumulative January–August installations were 489.1 GWh, up 17.0%, with LFP at 82.3% share—structural divergence between chemistries persists.
In a social-media post on September 14, Li Auto CEO Li Xiang argued the "size arms race" will end, because a pure-electric architecture's inherent advantage redefines interior space without enlarging the body; he said the industry is still thinking in gasoline-era terms and that competition will shift from dimensions to real user experience in cockpit and driving assistance.
Source: National Business Daily
