Leapmotor showcases its D19 SUV featuring a McDonald's vinyl wrap at Auto China 2026 in Beijing on April 24. CAO YINGYING/CHINA DAILY
China's auto market moved through April under a complex mix of multiple car launches, sustained price competition and cautious consumer sentiment. It all resulted in a noticeable slowdown in retail momentum compared with the end of the first quarter.
Analysts say the decline in demand was the result of a combination of factors. These include the Tomb-Sweeping Day holiday and the wait-and-see attitude of consumers following dozens of new model launches around the Beijing auto show in late April.
According to data from the China Passenger Car Association, retail sales from April 1 to 26 reached 1 million units, down 24 percent year-on-year and 19 percent from the same period in March.
New energy vehicle retail sales totaled 614,000 units, down 11 percent year-on-year, even as penetration rates continued to rise.
