China's car sales extend slide as shift accelerates to overseas markets

Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology

11/08/2026 08:57

BEIJING, Aug 11 (Reuters) - China's car sales fell for a 10th consecutive month, though the pace of decline eased, contrasting with strong export growth as automakers step up overseas expansion to offset cut-throat competition in the world's largest auto market.
The contraction underscores broader strains in China's economy, where sluggish household spending has left exports carrying a greater share of growth.
Sales at home slid 21.1% from a year earlier to 1.47 million vehicles in July, while exports rose 88.2% to 923,000 units, data from the China Passenger Car Association showed on Tuesday.

 (Reporting by Qiaoyi Li, Zhang Yan and Ju-min Park; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
 ((qiaoyi.li@thomsonreuters.com;))