The decline in European car sales in China continues
- In a Chinese passenger car market in the first 5 months of 2026 that declined by approximately 23% compared to the first 5 months of 2025, non-Chinese carmakers declined by only 13% (representing a loss of 453,000 cars) but unlike Chinese carmakers, this decline dramatically adds to those of previous years.
- As a result, the share of non-Chinese carmakers in Chinese car production is now only 28% this year.
- Among the most significant declines recorded by non-Chinese carmakers in China in the first 5 months of 2026, we note the Volkswagen Group which lost 265,000 cars (-27%) compared to the first 5 months of 2025 , Honda which lost 106,000 cars (-43%), Mercedes which lost 59,000 cars (-26.6%), Toyota which lost 32,000 cars (-5.7%) and BMW which lost 30,000 cars (-12.2%).
- Wuling and Baojun brands (due to their acquisition by SAIC), remains stable at +0%, while two non-Chinese brands managed to sell more cars in China than last year. These are Mazda (+10,000 sales in the first five months of 2026 compared to the first five months of 2025) and, especially, Tesla (+86,000 sales in the first five months of 2026 compared to the first five months of 2025). Mazda is benefiting from the launch of its locally designed electric Mazda 6, while Tesla is benefiting from the launch of the long-wheelbase Model Y (+15 cm) and the restyled Model Y.
- China forecasts an 11% decline in car sales across all brands for the year as a whole.