China's vehicle imports down 13% in July
China imported 43,000 vehicles in July 2026, a 13% decrease year-on-year. The decline highlights ongoing challenges in the country's automotive import market.
China's vehicle imports fell by 13% year-on-year in July 2026, reaching 43,000 units. This marks a continuation of a downward trend, with January-July imports declining by 11% to 240,000 vehicles.
The import of high-value, four-wheel-drive SUVs has been particularly weak. While retail sales of imported cars showed a less severe decline of 31% from January to July (220,000 units), largely due to a low base in early 2025, July saw a significant drop of 40% to 27,000 units, indicating substantial future pressures.
Japan was the largest source of imported vehicles in July, supplying 23,587 units. Germany followed with 7,479 units, the United States with 4,855, the United Kingdom with 3,094, and Slovakia with 1,839. For the January-July period, Japan remained the leading exporter to China with 127,080 vehicles.
Amidst the overall decline in imports, the luxury segment has shown divergence. Lexus has maintained a relatively stable sales performance, securing its position as the top imported luxury brand. However, some ultra-luxury brands have experienced significant volatility and shown signs of market contraction, adding to the industry's operating pressures.