June ICE Vehicle Sales Rebound as Camry and Lavida Return to Top 10, Market Polarization Deepens

Domestic sales of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles rebounded in June, with 17 models surpassing 10,000 units sold—a net increase of four models compared to May. The Toyota Camry and Volkswagen Lavida re-entered the top ten best-selling passenger car models. Total ICE vehicle sales for the month reached approximately 600,000 units, down 39% year-over-year. Among the dozen or so best-selling ICE models, only the Camry posted year-over-year growth; all others declined. This modest recovery was primarily driven by falling domestic fuel prices and automakers’ mid-year push to clear inventory, which led mainstream ICE models to offer greater discounts at dealerships, lowering purchase barriers and attracting both first-time buyers and those replacing existing vehicles. Models like the Camry and Lavida continued to appeal to conservative consumers thanks to their solid reputations, low failure rates, and high residual values. The market showed clear polarization: leading joint-venture models from Volkswagen and Toyota captured the majority of sales, while smaller joint ventures and niche ICE models saw their market shares continue to shrink. Meanwhile, compact ICE SUVs from Chinese自主品牌 such as Geely and Changan maintained steady performance in the essential household segment, remaining consistently popular.