Auto Imports Drop 18.6% YoY in May 2026; Jan–May Total Reaches 163,000 Units

According to data compiled by the General Administration of Customs, in May 2026, China imported 38,000 complete vehicles, up 40.4% month-over-month but down 18.6% year-over-year. The import value amounted to USD 1.79 billion (approximately RMB 12.146 billion), an increase of 36.7% from the previous month but a decline of 25.0% compared to the same period last year. From January to May 2026, cumulative imports of complete vehicles totaled 163,000 units, down 10.6% year-over-year, with a total import value of USD 7.54 billion (approximately RMB 51.163 billion), down 19.2% year-over-year. Additionally, in the full year of 2025, China imported 476,000 complete vehicles, a year-over-year decrease of 32.4%, with an import value of USD 23.64 billion (approximately RMB 160.409 billion), down 39.7% compared to 2024.