Among countries where car sales statistics were available in September 2026, a few nations including China, South Korea, and Russia saw a year-over-year decline, while the US, India, Brazil, UK, and most Western European nations generally achieved positive growth.

China continued to firmly hold the top spot globally, with September sales at 2.956 million, approaching the combined total of the US (1.31 million), India (458,000), and Japan (434,000). However, due to pressure on domestic demand, it fell 8.4% year-over-year for the month. The cumulative sales situation for the first three quarters was similar, with a slight year-over-year drop of 4.5%. It is worth mentioning that Chinese new energy brands surged against the trend in multiple overseas markets, becoming the largest structural highlight in the global car market.

The US (1.31 million) September sales rose, up 4.3% year-over-year, but cumulative sales for the year (12.026 million) dipped 2%, with high fuel prices and overall costs being the main factors for the decline.

India (458,000) September sales hit a record high for the same period, surging nearly 21% year-over-year. Cumulative sales for the year (3.958 million) set a new record, up 22% year-over-year.

The recovery trend in the Western European market is obvious. The UK (350,000) September sales were up 12% year-over-year, setting a nine-year high for the same period, with cumulative sales up 10.2% year-over-year; Germany, France, Italy, Spain September growth was around 10%; North American countries such as the US, Canada, and Mexico all achieved positive growth, with Canada growing for four consecutive months; Brazil (269,000) September sales surged 21.5%, setting a record high for the same period since 2014, with cumulative growth nearing 20%.

Asia-Pacific countries show sales divergence. Countries such as India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia generally grew around 10%, while China, South Korea, Russia, Turkey, and Argentina sales contracted significantly, with Turkey down over 20%. South Korea faced pressure due to declining domestic car sales; Russia's September sales dropped 6.2%, but cumulative growth for the year was 7.2%.

The global car market will continue to diverge in the fourth quarter. The US, Europe, and other parts of the market will grow moderately. China's domestic demand repair awaits alignment between policy and consumer sentiment. However, the globalization process of Chinese new energy brands will become an important strand in reshaping the global automotive industry landscape.