China wholesales July 2026: Market down -20.9%, Leapmotor hits another record, threatens VW for #4

The Leapmotor A10 is now up to 2nd place overall in China.

Official data by CAAM hasn’t been communicated yet, so we’ll go with CPCA data for now. Overall passenger vehicle sales in July continue to crater at -20.9% year-on-year to just 1,461,000 units. This is the 10th consecutive month of YOY declines, a feat not seen in China in decades. New Energy Vehicle (BEV+PHEV) penetration hit a record high of 65.1% up from 54% in July 2025 thanks to sales off just -3.9% YoY to 951,000. In particular, BEV sales are up 6% to 647,000 while PHEVs are off -21.1% to 219,000 and EREVs down -16.5% to 85,000. Petrol cars implode -44% and HEVs edge down -4%. Meanwhile vehicle exports surge 87.8% to 918,000 units, slightly less than the 1,037,000 of last month. Among them, NEVs soar 147.8% to 540,000 or 58.8% share vs. 44.8% a year ago. 

In the brands ranking, BYD (-31.5%) and Geely (-26.7%) continue to freefall but keep the top 2 spots. Toyota (-16.7%) surprisingly falls slower than the market to maintain itself above 100,000 units ahead of Volkswagen (-41.2%) sinking to new low. Reversely, Leapmotor (+83.9%) blissfully ignores the surrounding gloom, even smashing its monthly volume record for the second month in a row at 83,698. More significantly, the gap between Volkswagen and Leapmotor has reduced dramatically from 31,129 in June to just 3,852 this month. Xiaomi (+2.7%) is the only additional Top 10 member in positive as it stays in 9th place vs. #15 so far this year. Wuling (-13.2%) and BMW (-19.7%) manage to contain their fall somewhat but Chery (-28.7%) skids. Tesla (-32.9%) also.

Xiaomi is, alongside Leapmotor, the only Top 10 manufacturer in positive.

Looking at smaller brands, Li Auto (-0.9%) is stable and rallies back up six ranks to #10. Fang Cheng Bao (+109.4%) also advances six spots on June to reach a new record #12, eclipsing its previous best of #14 reached last December. Nevo surges 107.7% to #14, Zeekr (+74.8%) is up to #16, a new high and only the second time the brand ends the month inside the Top 20 alongside last May (#17). Arcfox is up 194% to break into the Top 20 for the first time at #20. MG (+182.2%), Luxeed (+111.7%), Onvo (+69.9%), Denza (+69%), NIO (+57.6%) and Deepal (+32.8%) also impress. Shangjie, or SAIC, scores a second straight month above 10,000 units at 11,017. Mazda (+67.2%) is the only foreign manufacturer in positive thanks to the new EZ-60 (2,929 sales) and EZ-6 (2,586) still not reaching particularly high volumes.

Looking at the models ranking, the Geely Xingyuan (-27%) continues to dominate, and this despite a nasty YoY fall. The new Leapmotor A10 amazes again, stepping up to a record 2nd place and now the best-selling SUV in the country. It has now surpasses 26,000 monthly sales and already adds up to just under 92,000 units after just 5 months in market. The Tesla Model Y (-18.2%) is knocked down to #3 but remains at #2 year-to-date. The Xiaomi SU7 (-13.8%) holds its spot inside the Top 5 just as the new Fang Cheng Bao Tai 7 slots inside the Top 5 for the second time after last December. Excellent performances also by the Nevo Q05 (+1924.8%) at #8 and the BYD Sealion 05 (+25.2%) at #8. The new Li i6 falls to #9 after four months spent inside the Top 5. The Toyota Corolla Cross (+190.7%) is up 27 spots on June to #11 and the only ICE vehicle near the top.

The Toyota bZ3X sells over 9,000 units in July.

What about recent launches by foreign manufacturers? It’s interesting to track their desperate attempts at reclaiming success. The Toyota bZ3X (+31.9%) manages over 9,000 sales which is not a record but still solid, with the Buick Electra E7 (4,911) also strong. The Audi E7X sells 3,007 units which is less than the 4,017 of June. The VW ID.ERA 9X, after selling over 5,000 units in May, has already fallen to 2,045. The VW ID.UNYX 06 (1,102 sales), ID.UNYX 07 (914) and ID.UNYX 08 (133) all appear at the same time with discreet volumes for now. The Audi E5 falls to a miserable 173 sales with the Mercedes CLA, now discontinued, at 70.

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Previous month: China wholesales June 2026: Leapmotor breaks volume record, market down -23%, exports (+75%) above 1 million

One year ago: China wholesales July 2025: BYD off -17.1%, Geely up 104.5%, Leapmotor in Top 10

Full July 2026 Top 94 All brands and Top 587 All models below.