China’s imported car market recorded a rare and steep decline in the first ten months of 2025, with total imports falling to 400,000 units, down 30% year-on-year, according to data released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).

October imports reached 43,000 units, edging down 0.5% year-on-year but rising 6% compared with September. Despite the modest month-on-month increase, the broader trend reflects sustained weakness in China’s once-robust imported vehicle segment.

The imported car market in China has been on a decade-long decline since peaking at 1.43 million units in 2014. Import volumes continued to shrink in 2024, with total imports falling to just 700,000 units for the year, a 12% decrease from 2023.
The ongoing contraction reflects multiple structural factors, including the rapid rise of domestic brands, the surge of competitive new energy vehicles, and shifting consumer preferences toward high-value, locally produced models.

Based on current trends, CPCA noted that exceeding 500,000 imported vehicles for the full year will be difficult. With only 400,000 units imported from January through October, the market is set to finish well below historical averages.