Gasgoo Munich-On Oct 25, China imported 21,000 vehicles in September — a 49% plunge from a year earlier and a 6% drop from August, according to data released by Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). For the first nine months of the year, imports totaled 290,000 units, down 20% year-on-year. "The downward pressure on imported cars remains intense," Cui wrote.
In terms of structure, passenger vehicles account for over 99% of total imports, making them the dominant force. That share climbs even higher when including pickups classified as light trucks. As a result, shifts in the broader import market essentially mirror those in imported passenger vehicles.
Image Credit: Cui Dongshu
Breaking it down by powertrain, hybrid imports climbed 15% year-on-year in the first nine months — the only category to post growth. In contrast, pure electric passenger vehicles fell 27%, while plug-in hybrids slumped 54%. Imported new-energy vehicles are significantly underperforming their internal combustion counterparts.
Engine displacement is also contracting. Imports are concentrated in gasoline models under 2 liters. While the 3-to-4-liter segment showed more resilience last year, the 1.5-to-2-liter range has fared better this year. As displacement trends downward, the corresponding price bands are shifting lower as well.
September’s 49% annual decline marks the steepest drop in this year’s import data. With cumulative imports down just 20% over the first nine months, September’s plunge far exceeds the yearly average — making it a statistical outlier. Such volatility could stem from shipping schedules or customs clearance timing, or it might reflect gaps in model cycles. Publicly available information isn't sufficient to pinpoint the cause.
The shrinking import pie coincides with the push toward localization. Core models from Mercedes-Benz and BMW have long been produced domestically, while high-end lines from Audi and Volvo are increasingly rolling off local assembly lines. Porsche and Lexus still rely heavily on imports, yet sales for both brands are contracting in China this year.
For dealers, the focus of the import business is shifting from volume-driven sales to high-price, low-volume models. Inventory depth is thinning out, and turnover requirements for display and test-drive vehicles are tightening — pressure that lands first on the distribution channel.
