Data released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) on September 16 show that in the first 13 days of September, nationwide passenger NEV (new energy vehicle) retail reached 362,000 units, down 10% year on year but up 16% month on month, with NEV retail penetration hitting 70.3%—a record high for the period.
Over the same September 1–13 window, total passenger-car retail stood at 515,000 units, down 23% year on year, while manufacturer wholesale reached 550,000 units, down 22% year on year. Cumulative retail for the year to date reached 12.231 million units, down 21% year on year, reflecting continued pressure on domestic auto consumption.
CPCA secretary-general Cui Dongshu noted on September 15 that trade-in subsidy strength for passenger cars fell well short of commercial vehicles in 2026, weighing on entry-level NEV demand, and called for long-term supportive measures such as tax relief for affordable EVs, promoting NEVs in the countryside, and standardizing economy-class electric cars.
Analysts said the still-elevated penetration rate and month-on-month retail recovery point to a phased rebound, even as the year-on-year drop signals near-term consumption headwinds in the "Golden September–Silver October" peak season.
Source: CPCA / National Business Daily
