China’s Used Car Sales Rise 18.3% in January to 1.73 Million Units

Transactions of used passenger cars totaled 945,800 units in Jan, up 12.7% YoY, of which MPVs emerged as a key growth driver, with 119,800 units traded, up 25.06%.

On Feb 13, the China Automobile Dealers Association released data on the used car market for January 2026.

Data show that nationwide used vehicle transactions reached 1.7292 million units in January, down 7.59% month on month but up 18.33% year on year. Total transaction value amounted to RMB 110.612 billion ($15.94 billion).

Affected by consumption patterns ahead of the Spring Festival, the month-on-month decline represented a typical seasonal fluctuation, while the year-on-year increase remained at a relatively high level, indicating continued market recovery.

In terms of vehicle structure, passenger cars remained dominant. Transactions of basic passenger cars totaled 945,800 units, up 12.7% year on year, while SUV transactions reached 230,600 units, rising 16.88%.

MPVs emerged as a key growth driver, with 119,800 units traded in January, up 25.06% year on year. Crossover passenger vehicles recorded 41,100 units, up 11.26%.

Commercial vehicles also showed strong performance, with both buses and trucks achieving positive year-on-year growth. Against a backdrop of recovering demand in logistics, engineering and regional transportation, the commercial vehicle segment outperformed the same period last year.

The age structure of traded vehicles showed divergence. Vehicles aged three to six years accounted for 43.45% of total transactions, remaining the core segment but down 7.29 percentage points year on year. Vehicles under three years old accounted for 29.29%, up 2.34 percentage points.

Vehicles aged seven to ten years represented 17.13%, up 1.86 percentage points year on year, while those over ten years old accounted for 10.13%, up 3.09 percentage points.

The share of the mainstream three-to-six-year segment narrowed, while transactions at both ends of the age spectrum increased.

Regionally, all areas recorded year-on-year growth, with northern markets standing out. North China and Northeast China both posted growth rates exceeding 30%.

Cross-regional circulation remained active. In January, the inter-provincial transfer rate reached 35.03%, up 0.14 percentage points month on month and 6.1 percentage points year on year. Total transferred vehicles amounted to 605,800 units, up 43.3% year on year.

Overall, despite seasonal moderation, the market maintained year-on-year growth in January. Accelerated adjustments in vehicle and age structure, along with improved cross-regional circulation efficiency, were key features of the month’s performance.