China car sales slump as exports retain momentum

China’s domestic car market kept shrinking for a 12th straight month in September, while exports stayed strong as automakers sought overseas demand to offset a weak home backdrop. Passenger-vehicle sales fell 28.1% year-on-year to 1.63 million units, worsening from a 23.7% drop in August, according to the China Passenger Car Association. Annual exports jumped 73.2% to 923,000 vehicles last month. At home, battery electric and plug-in hybrid sales fell 16.7% to 1.08 million. Export growth for that segment accelerated to 163.5%. CPCA’s Cui Dongshu said any limits on plug-in hybrid exports are unlikely to derail overall new-energy vehicle exports because pure EVs dominate.