- China’s pickup market shifted decisively toward exports as the core growth engine, reflecting domestic demand limits and manufacturers pursuing overseas share amid price and competitive pressure.
- October sales reached 61,000 units, up 22.1% YoY and down 9.2% MoM; year-to-date volumes hit 583,000 units, up 19.4% YoY, while exports were 47,000 in October and 352,000 YTD.
- Market leaders face execution risks as export-heavy strategies pressure logistics, localization and margins, with Great Wall leading but challengers like SAIC Maxus, Changan and BYD testing capacity and delivery timing.
China’s pickup truck market recorded sales of 61K units in October 2026, up 22.1% YoY but down 9.2% MoM, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). The monthly total was among the highest October figures in the past five years.
Sales for the first 10 months reached 583K units, up 19.4% YoY.
The gap between domestic and overseas markets continued to widen, with exports remaining the industry’s main growth driver. China exported 47K pickup trucks in October, up 85% YoY and 24% MoM. Exports totaled 352K units from January to October, an increase of 49% YoY.
Exports have accounted for a growing share of China’s pickup truck sales in recent years. The proportion rose from around 45% in 2024 to 50% in 2025, then reached 60% in the first 10 months of 2026. In October alone, exports made up 64% of total sales.
The competitive landscape among domestic automakers remained dominated by Great Wall Motor, followed by a group of strong challengers. Great Wall Motor sold 13,050 pickups in October, down 7.4% YoY. Its sales for January–October totaled 148,876 units, keeping it firmly in first place.
Export demand drove strong performances at several other automakers. Changan sold 8,972 units in October, up 49.3% YoY, while SAIC Maxus delivered 8,678 units, up 91.5%. Its year-to-date sales had surpassed 73K units, securing second place in the market. JAC Motors sold 6,969 units, up 70.1% YoY.
Chery, meanwhile, posted the fastest growth. Although its October sales totaled just 2,742 units, its cumulative sales for the first 10 months surged 200.9% YoY. Zhengzhou Nissan sold 4,470 units in October, down 10.9%.
China’s new energy pickup truck segment sold approximately 8,200 units in October, up 45% YoY but down 7% MoM. Sales for January–October reached 80K units, an increase of 34% YoY.
Despite maintaining double-digit growth, the segment’s recent expansion has been slightly slower than that of the overall conventional-fuel pickup market, the report noted.
Among individual automakers, BYD led overseas sales of new energy pickups in October with 4,370 units. Geely Radar sold 1,831 electric pickups, followed by Changan with 916 extended-range pickups and Zhengzhou Nissan with 817 new energy pickups.
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