On October 2, Cui Dongshu, the Secretary-General of the China Passenger Car Association, noted in an article that, based on data from the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, global auto sales from January to August 2026 amounted to 63.43 million units. In terms of country-specific sales, China led with 20.31 million units, accounting for 32.0% of the total market. This represents a noticeable decrease from the 35.4% market share China held in 2025. Meanwhile, U.S. sales reached 10.94 million units, representing 17.2% of the market, with a slight decrease. India, however, emerged as a standout performer, with its market share rising to 6.7%, becoming a notable bright spot for growth.

Analyzing the changes in market share over the years, it's evident that China's share had been on a steady rise from 2022 to 2025, peaking in 2025. In contrast, the market share of major European countries generally remained stable, albeit with slight declines. Meanwhile, emerging markets such as Brazil and Russia maintained stable market shares. The decline in China's market sales during the first eight months of 2026 was the primary driver behind the shifts in global market share. The rapid growth of emerging markets, particularly India, helped offset the growth pressures experienced in the Chinese and U.S. markets, enabling the global auto market to sustain a slight positive growth trajectory.

From January to August 2026, global auto sales witnessed a 2% increase. Notably, India's sales surged by 20%, Thailand's by 16%, Russia's by 6%, and Vietnam's by an impressive 28%. These figures underscore the significant pulling effect that emerging markets are having on the global auto industry.