Market Overview - In the first 12 days of October, the national retail sales of passenger cars reached 686,000 units, a year-on-year decrease of 8%, but a month-on-month increase of 12%. Cumulative retail sales for the year reached 17.694 million units, up 8% year-on-year [2][4] - Wholesale sales of passenger cars during the same period totaled 546,000 units, down 11% year-on-year and down 15% month-on-month. Year-to-date wholesale sales reached 21.393 million units, an increase of 12% year-on-year [2][6] New Energy Vehicle (NEV) Performance - Retail sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in the first 12 days of October were 367,000 units, a year-on-year decrease of 1%, but a month-on-month increase of 1%. The retail penetration rate for NEVs reached 53.5%, with cumulative retail sales for the year at 9.236 million units, up 23% year-on-year [2][4] - Wholesale sales of NEVs were 328,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 1%, but a month-on-month decrease of 11%. The wholesale penetration rate for NEVs was 60.2%, with cumulative wholesale sales for the year at 10.775 million units, up 31% year-on-year [2][4] Sales Trends and Seasonal Effects - The first week of October saw an average daily retail of 44,000 units, down 18% year-on-year, while the second week saw an average daily retail of 85,000 units, up 7% year-on-year [4] - The traditional peak season of "Golden September and Silver October" is expected to boost sales, but tightening subsidy standards and the impending expiration of vehicle purchase tax incentives may gradually release consumer purchasing enthusiasm [4][6] Price Competition and Promotions - The price competition in the passenger car market has returned to rationality, with a moderate scale of new car price reductions. In the first nine months of 2025, 148 new car models saw price cuts, with an average reduction of 21,000 yuan, representing a 10.8% decrease [8][9] - In September 2025, the average price reduction for new energy vehicles was 19,000 yuan, with a reduction rate of 9.8%, while conventional fuel vehicles saw an average reduction of 11,000 yuan, with a reduction rate of 5.9% [8][9] Export Performance - The export market for Chinese automobiles has shown strong growth, particularly in Southeast Asia, Africa, and the EU. In the first eight months of 2025, the overseas sales of Chinese self-owned brands reached 2.1 million units, up 11% year-on-year [11] - The strategy for exporting Chinese automobiles has evolved, focusing on local assembly and production, with companies like SAIC, Geely, Great Wall, and Chery achieving significant success in overseas markets [11]