China’s passenger new-energy vehicle (NEV) wholesale sales are estimated to have reached 1.67 million in September, according to a preliminary estimate from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). That would be the highest monthly total of 2026, up 12% from a year earlier and 11% from August. The first nine months would then amount to about 11.42 million wholesales, roughly 10% above the same period last year.
The estimate was derived from preliminary figures reported by major manufacturers. Automakers that each sold more than 10,000 NEVs wholesale in August represented 93% of that month’s market; their combined September sales were about 1.55 million. Applying their August market share, the CPCA projected a nationwide total of approximately 1.67 million.
BYD led September’s manufacturer rankings with 456,713 units, followed by Geely at 188,800 and Chery at 127,486. Leapmotor and Changan rounded out the top five, with 105,656 and 102,968 respectively. Each of the five recorded growth both year over year and month over month. Tesla China ranked sixth at 95,366.
Wholesale gains contrasted with softer domestic retail demand: CPCA weekly data showed passenger NEV retail sales down 20% year over year to 827,000 from September 1–27. The association attributed export strength partly to persistently high overseas oil prices. It also cited a high comparison base from subsidy-related purchases a year earlier and disruption to late-September sales and production around the Mid-Autumn Festival.