December 2025 saw sales of Chinese-made vehicles, including exports, decline by more than 6% to 3.272 million units, according to wholesale data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. This follows a 10% increase to 3.489 million units in December 2024.
Domestic sales dropped nearly 16% last month to 2.519 million units, after growing 12% a year earlier. Exports, however, surged over 49% to 753,000 units.
For the full year 2025, total sales of China-made vehicles increased over 9% to 34.402 million units from 31.436 million in 2024. Domestic sales rose almost 7% to 27.304 million units, while exports grew 21% to 7.098 million units. Overall vehicle production in the country increased 12% to 34.531 million units last year.
Sales of new energy vehicles rose 28% to 16.490 million units in 2025, accounting for 48% of total industry volumes. Battery electric vehicle sales surged 38% to 10.622 million units, plug-in hybrid vehicle sales rose 17% to 5.861 million units, and fuel-cell EV sales jumped 53% to 8,000 units. Domestic NEV sales increased 20% to 13.875 million units last year, while exports doubled to 2.615 million units.
The domestic vehicle market last year was driven by government stimulus including vehicle trade-in incentives and cuts in purchase taxes. The market also responded to strong price competition among domestic manufacturers and numerous new model launches. The domestic market has lost momentum in recent months, reflecting weakening consumer and business sentiment and strong year-earlier volumes.
The Chinese government confirmed it will continue its vehicle trade-in subsidy program in 2026. GlobalData forecasts a 3% increase in light vehicle sales to 27.63 million units in 2026.
BYD's global sales increased 7.7% to 4,602,436 units in 2025, with sales plunging over 18% in December. Overseas sales surged 151% to 1,046,083 units last year. Passenger BEV sales rose 28% to 2,256,714 units, while passenger PHEV sales declined 8% to 2,288,709 units. Commercial vehicle sales surged 162% to 57,013 units.
SAIC Motor reported a 12% increase in global sales to 4,507,518 units in 2025, driven by a 33% rise in NEV sales to 1,642,785 units. SAIC-GM-Wuling reported a 21% rise in global deliveries to 1,615,066 units, while SAIC-VW's sales fell 11% to 1,024,000 units. SAIC-GM's sales rebounded 23% to 535,000 units. SAIC Motor passenger vehicle unit reported a 25% sales increase to 886,742 units. The group's overseas sales increased 3% to 1,070,550 units.
Geely Auto reported a 39% rise in global sales to 3,024,567 units last year. Chery Automobile's sales rose 8% to 2,806,393 units, with exports increasing 17% to 1,344,020 units. GAC Group reported a 14% decline to 1,721,489 units. Great Wall Motor's sales increased 7% to 1,323,672 units, with overseas sales rising 12% to 506,066 units.
Tesla's Shanghai factory sales fell 7% to 851,732 units last year, with retail sales in China falling 5% to 625,698 units. Exports fell 13% to 226,034 units.