Market & IndustrySmart
September car sales down, but the market is not really slowing
The September slowdown looks worse on paper because it is compared with an exceptionally strong 2024, inflating the apparent drop.
11 October 2026 1 min read 4 views
September car sales look softer, but the picture needs context. The comparison with a very strong month last year creates a base effect that makes the decline seem larger than it really is.
For China’s auto market, this is not a genuine slump: demand remains solid, and the adjustment is part of a normalization phase after earlier peaks.