China's Imported Car Sales Hit Decade Low in 2025 as Domestic EVs Surge

In 2025, China's imported vehicle sales plummeted sharply, with annual imports totaling only 476,000 units—a 32.4% year-on-year decline and the lowest level in nearly a decade. The import value stood at USD 23.64 billion, down 39.7% compared to the previous year. Since peaking at 1.43 million units in 2014, China’s imported car market has been in continuous contraction; 2025 sales amounted to just one-third of that peak volume. Luxury brands faced widespread pressure, with Porsche, Ferrari, and Bentley all reporting double-digit sales declines. Maserati, which has changed its China head three times within two years, slashed prices on its Grecale model by as much as 40%. Only Lexus demonstrated resilience, importing 184,100 units—an increase of 2%. Meanwhile, domestically produced premium new energy vehicles (NEVs) have risen rapidly, with models such as BYD Yangwang U8, Zunjie S800, and Aito M9 leading sales in their respective segments and steadily eroding the market share of imported vehicles. Industry insiders forecast that imported car sales could decline another 10% in 2026, intensifying pressure on dealerships to transform their business models.