China Car Sales Drop Again as EV Export Growth Surges in April

China’s auto market extended its downturn in April as domestic vehicle sales continued to weaken, while strong export demand helped automakers offset mounting pressure at home. According to data released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), car sales in China fell 21.6% year-over-year to 1.4 million units, marking the seventh straight month of declining sales.

The slowdown reflects ongoing challenges in the world’s largest automotive market, where intense competition and shifting consumer preferences have weighed heavily on demand. Automakers have increasingly focused on overseas markets as domestic sales struggle to recover despite efforts to introduce more premium vehicle models.

CPCA Secretary-General Cui Dongshu said sales of traditional gasoline-powered vehicles remained below expectations due to elevated oil prices. Demand for plug-in hybrid vehicles also stayed weak, contributing to the broader decline in the Chinese auto industry.

Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), which represented 60.6% of total sales in April, dropped 6.8% from a year earlier. This marked the fourth consecutive month of falling new energy vehicle sales in China, signaling slower momentum in the domestic EV market.

In contrast, China’s EV exports continued to surge. Exports of EVs and plug-in hybrids jumped 111.8% year-over-year in April, outperforming the 80.2% growth recorded for overall vehicle exports. Rising global fuel prices, driven partly by geopolitical tensions involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran, have boosted demand for electric vehicles in international markets.

BYD, the world’s largest EV manufacturer, also highlighted the growing divide between domestic weakness and overseas strength. While the company’s global sales decline extended into an eighth month, its international shipments remained resilient.

Morgan Stanley recently maintained its forecast that China’s total car wholesales would decline 2% this year, while increasing its vehicle export growth estimate from 15% to 33%. The bank also warned that domestic sales could fall 11%, deeper than its previous forecast of 6%, underscoring continued uncertainty in China’s automotive sector.