Cui Dongshu: Passenger car retail sales in October decreased by 1%, A0-class sedans and C-class SUVs became the main force in retail sales.

On November 16, Cui Dongshu, Secretary-General of the Association of Passenger Cars, released the trend of passenger car models in the sub-segment market in October 2025. The anti-overwork trend is pushing the automotive market towards a direction of "reduced prices, reduced promotions," and the automotive market is running increasingly smoothly. According to the statistical rule of the number of car companies that have announced price cuts or new car prices substantially breaking the lowest guide price in the past two years, the number of such cases has decreased, but the incremental effect of new cars entering the market at lower prices is significant. In October 2025, passenger car retail sales decreased by 1%, significantly lower than the 8% wholesale growth. Due to restrictions on high interest rates and high returns, as well as the suspension of subsidies leading to a decline in retail sales from July to October, retail sales of A-level sedans and MPVs in October were lower, with A0-level sedans and C-level SUVs becoming the mainstays of October retail sales. The high-end performance of SUVs is strong, with a rebound in sales of A0-level sedans and good performance in sales of A00-level sedans. In October 2025, the overall wholesale pattern of major passenger car manufacturers continued to change, with signs of gradual rise in some mid-tier companies, such as GEELY AUTO, Xiaopeng Motors, Xiaomi Motors, LEAPMOTOR, etc. State-owned large groups' independent brands are experiencing strong growth, with the independent brands of the five major state-owned large groups including SAIC, Dongfeng, Changan, Chery, and BAIC increasing by a total of 17% in October compared to the same period last year, among which Deep Blue, Lantu, Jinfu, and the independent second-generation products of the major state-owned groups showed strong growth. I. Trend of Economy Passenger Car Market 1. A00-level sedan market performance In October 2025, the wholesale of A00-level sedans was 165,100 units, accounting for a share of 14.06%, a year-on-year increase of 7%, and a month-on-month increase of 8%; retail sales in October 2025 decreased by 2% year-on-year, with a month-on-month increase of 7%. From January to October 2025, the wholesale quantity was 1,376,400 units, with a cumulative increase of 50% in wholesale sales by manufacturers; the domestic retail quantity from January to October 2025 was 1,140,800 units, with a cumulative increase of 21% in retail sales. The A00 market has returned to the competition pattern of 20 years ago, with good products from Xia Li, Chery, Geely, Changan, and BYD Company Limited. Recently, BYD Company Limited, Geely, Changan, Chery, FAW Pentium, and other diversified A00 main models and new products have performed outstandingly, gradually reflecting the incremental potential of micro electric vehicles. 2. Trend of main A0-level sedan models In October 2025, the wholesale of A0-level sedans was 165,100 units, accounting for a share of 14.06%, a year-on-year increase of 24%, and a month-on-month increase of 2%; retail sales in October 2025 increased by 38% year-on-year, with a month-on-month increase of 1%. From January to October 2025, the wholesale quantity was 1,299,600 units, with a cumulative increase of 65% in wholesale sales by manufacturers; the domestic retail quantity from January to October 2025 was 890,800 units, with a cumulative increase of 69% in retail sales. The characteristics of independent electric vehicles replacing fuel vehicles are obvious, and the competitive pattern has changed from joint ventures to independent brands. The Japanese brands Toyota and Honda have maintained a strong position in the early stage, while the trend of domestic fuel-efficient entry-level cars in recent years has been relatively difficult. The trend towards comprehensive electrification of A0-level sedans is evident, with basically no strong fuel car products, reflecting the clear advantages of independent pure electric products. 3. Sales trend of A0-level SUVs In October 2025, the wholesale of A0-level SUVs was 207,900 units, accounting for a share of 12.63%, a year-on-year decrease of 4%, and a month-on-month increase of 7%; retail sales in October 2025 decreased by 14% year-on-year, with a month-on-month decrease of 9%. From January to October 2025, the wholesale quantity was 1,660,300 units, with a cumulative decrease of 2% in wholesale sales by manufacturers; the domestic retail quantity from January to October 2025 was 987,000 units, with a cumulative decrease of 2% in retail sales. Mainstream small SUVs from Japan and South Korea have basically exited the market, while independent electric vehicles have shown strong performance. II. Trend of A-level Passenger Car Market 1. Trend of main compact sedan models In October 2025, the wholesale of A-level sedans was 410,200 units, accounting for a share of 34.94%, a year-on-year decrease of 5%, and a month-on-month increase of 10%; retail sales in October 2025 decreased by 16% year-on-year, with a month-on-month decrease of 4%. From January to October 2025, the wholesale quantity was 3,401,400 units, with a cumulative decrease of 5% in wholesale sales by manufacturers; the domestic retail quantity from January to October 2025 was 3,188,800 units, with a cumulative decrease of 7% in retail sales. New energy vehicles dominated the mainstream sedan market in 2024, with BYD Company Limited taking the lead. In early 2025, the fuel vehicle market saw a temporary rebound, and Volkswagen's fuel vehicles still have a certain market space, with mainstream family cars being the most practical fuel vehicles. 2. Trend of main compact SUV models In October 2025, the wholesale of A-level SUVs was 890,300 units, accounting for a share of 54.09%, a year-on-year increase of 7%, and a month-on-month increase of 3%; retail sales in October 2025 decreased by 6% year-on-year, with a month-on-month increase of 0%. From January to October 2025, the wholesale quantity was 7,274,000 units, with a cumulative increase of 16% in wholesale sales by manufacturers; the domestic retail quantity from January to October 2025 was 5,226,700 units, with a cumulative increase of 12% in retail sales. The mainstream SUV market has undergone rapid changes, with BYD Company Limited, Geely, Changan, and Chery's SUVs performing exceptionally well, achieving a comprehensive breakthrough in domestic and international independent SUVs. III. Trend of B-level Passenger Car Market 1. Trend of B-level sedans In October 2025, the wholesale of B-level sedans was 368,800 units, accounting for a share of 31.41%, a year-on-year increase of 3%, and a month-on-month increase of 0%; retail sales in October 2025 increased by 4% year-on-year, with a month-on-month decrease of 3%. From January to October 2025, the wholesale quantity was 3,273,200 units, with a cumulative increase of 6% in wholesale sales by manufacturers; the domestic retail quantity from January to October 2025 was 3,029,700 units, with a cumulative increase of 9% in retail sales. Japanese brands still have a stable demand in the high-end sedan market, and high-end independent new energy vehicles have rapidly risen, especially in the high-end market dominated by rental ride-hailing services. 2. Trend of B-level SUV market In October 2025, the wholesale of B-level SUVs was 459,900 units, accounting for a share of 27.94%, a year-on-year increase of 20%, and a month-on-month increase of 11%; retail sales in October 2025 increased by 6% year-on-year, with a month-on-month increase of 6%. From January to October 2025, the wholesale quantity was 3,266,000 units, with a cumulative increase of 7% in wholesale sales by manufacturers; the domestic retail quantity from January to October 2025 was 2,776,300 units, with a cumulative increase of 3% in retail sales. The high-end SUV market is rapidly rising with independent new energy vehicles, weakening the high-end advantage of traditional fuel vehicles, with recent improvements in high-end brands such as BMW. 3. Trend of B-level and above MPV market B-level MPV In October 2025, the wholesale of B-level MPVs was 75,600 units, accounting for a share of 67.52%, a year-on-year increase of 33%, and a month-on-month increase of 14%; retail sales in October 2025 decreased by 3% year-on-year, with a month-on-month increase of 1%. From January to October 2025, the wholesale quantity was 580,100 units, with a cumulative increase of 17% in wholesale sales by manufacturers; the domestic retail quantity from January to October 2025 was 482,500 units, with a cumulative increase of 1% in retail sales. C-level MPV In October 2025, the wholesale of C-level MPVs was 23,100 units, accounting for a share of 20.59%, a year-on-year increase of 4%, and a month-on-month decrease of 17%; retail sales in October 2025 increased by 5% year-on-year, with a month-on-month decrease of 17%. From January to October 2025, the wholesale quantity was 233,500 units, with a cumulative increase of 39% in wholesale sales by manufacturers; the domestic retail quantity from January to October 2025 was 231,800 units, with a cumulative increase of 27% in retail sales. The high growth phase of the MPV market has changed to a low growth trend. The GL8 has shown strong performance recently, with BYD Company Limited, Tengshi, and Trumpchi's MPVs performing exceptionally well, while the advantage of Japanese MPVs has rapidly declined.