Only one fuel-powered model, the Toyota Corolla Cross, appeared in July's top 10 China passenger car retail sales list, ranking 10th with 14,510 units, according to Jiemian News, based on data from Autohome and Yiche. The top three models were Geely Xingyuan with 32,306 units, Leapmotor A10 with 26,424 units, and Tesla Model Y with 25,158 units.
Tesla Model Y was the most expensive model in the top 10, with an official guide price of 263,500 yuan to 313,500 yuan. BYD placed three models in the ranking: Fangchengbao Titanium 7, Yuan UP and Sealion 06. Titanium 7 sold 20,320 units and ranked fifth; its battery-electric version sold 9,500 units and its plug-in hybrid version sold 10,820 units. Its official guide price is 179,800 yuan to 239,800 yuan.
Jiemian News said that in May, all of the top 10 retail-selling passenger cars were new energy vehicles, marking the first time fuel cars were completely shut out of the top 10 since the sales list was compiled. It added that in January there were still seven fuel cars in the top 10, falling to five in March and one in April, before fuel cars disappeared entirely in May and then returned in June.
China Passenger Car Association data showed July fuel-car retail sales fell 39% year on year in June, with pure fuel cars down 42% and regular hybrids down 7%. The association said the market's main drag was fuel cars, while the new energy vehicle retail penetration rate held at a record 62.8% in the month. It also said new energy vehicle sales by joint-venture brands rose 45% year on year in June, while fuel-car exports rose 33%.
The article also cited Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers' passenger car branch, who said average prices for regular fuel cars rose from 166,000 yuan in 2021 to 188,000 yuan in 2024, before easing to 177,000 yuan in 2025 and 178,000 yuan in June 2026. Average new energy vehicle prices fell from 184,000 yuan in 2023 to 180,000 yuan in 2024 and 160,000 yuan in 2025, before rising to 171,000 yuan in June 2026.
Separately, Land Rover Defender said on August 10 that the Defender 110 HSE had been launched at a limited-time starting price of 728,000 yuan, down from its previous official guide price of 899,000 yuan. BMW, Mercedes-Benz and SAIC Audi have also cut prices on several models, while General Motors said Chevrolet will continue producing cars in China and provide after-sales support for its more than 7 million existing Chevrolet owners in China.