China’s passenger car retail market recorded sales of 2.225 million units in November, down 8.1% year-on-year and 1.1% month-on-month, according to the latest datat released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) on Monday.

Despite the slowdown, cumulative passenger car retail sales for January–November reached 21.483 million units, representing a 6.1% year-on-year increase.

The CPCA noted that market momentum has shifted significantly throughout the year. Retail sales grew just 1.2% in the January–February period, then accelerated to 15% growth from March to June. Growth rates stabilized at around 6% between July and September, before softening again in October and November.

The association described the recent moderation as a result of high base effects in the fourth quarter of last year, consistent with its earlier forecast of a “low early, high mid-year, and flat end” trajectory for the 2025 auto market.

Industry observers expect year-end promotions and ongoing new model launches to support stable demand in December, though overall retail growth is likely to remain moderate.