China’s Pickup Market Rebounds in December, Radar Brand Sales Soar

China’s pickup truck market, which faced a slow second half in 2025, showed clear signs of recovery in December.

December Sales Jump 35.6% Month-on-Month

In December 2025, China recorded 25,556 pickup sales (based on compulsory insurance registration, excluding special-purpose pickups and exports). This is a 35.6% increase compared with November, but a 7.1% drop from December 2024. December was the second-highest month of the year, after March’s 28,842 units. Full-year pickup sales totaled 259,529 units, down 6.3% year-on-year, similar to the January–November decline of 6.25%.

Sales by Fuel Type

Diesel: 16,060 units, +19% month-on-month, -19% year-on-year

Pure electric: 2,761 units, +145% month-on-month, +116% year-on-year

Gasoline: 4,810 units, +50% month-on-month, -14% year-on-year

Gasoline/CNG dual-fuel: 76 units, +27% month-on-month, +25% year-on-year

Gasoline hybrid: 1,723 units, +116% month-on-month, +245% year-on-year

CNG: 126 units, -22% month-on-month, -45% year-on-year

Traditional fuel pickups rebounded at year-end but remain below last year’s levels, with diesel down nearly 20%. New energy pickups continued strong growth: both pure electric and hybrid pickups more than doubled year-on-year, with hybrid sales nearly 2.5 times higher. However, due to small volumes, new energy pickups have not yet become the main market driver. CNG models declined, while dual-fuel pickups saw modest gains, showing alternative fuels are still in the experimental stage. Overall, the market is shifting toward diversification and a new energy focus.

Regional Market Trends

Eight provinces recorded over 10,000 pickups sold in 2025: Xinjiang (20,946), Yunnan (19,385), Sichuan (16,565), Guangdong (15,117), Inner Mongolia (14,911), Shandong (12,655), Hebei (10,906), and Hunan (10,285). This is three fewer than in 2024. Ten provinces achieved year-on-year growth: Xinjiang, Yunnan, Guangdong, Hunan, Fujian, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Chongqing, and Hainan. Guangdong led with a 19.3% increase, while Heilongjiang fell 19.5%. The data indicates the market’s growth center is shifting from northern provinces to central and southern regions, with sales increasingly concentrated in key markets.

Brand Performance and New Energy Impact

Top ten brands in December:

Great Wall – 9,783

Jiangling – 4,169

Zhengzhou Nissan – 3,395

Radar – 2,110

Jiangxi Isuzu – 1,887

JAC – 889

Changan – 810

Foton – 677

SAIC Maxus – 673

Ford – 482

Radar entered the top four for the first time, while Changan rose to seventh. All top ten brands posted month-on-month gains: Radar +88%, Changan +79.6%, Zhengzhou Nissan +65.5%, Jiangling +40.9%.

Radar’s growth was driven by its pure electric pickups, with December sales up 238% year-on-year and total growth at 152%, highlighting strong demand for electric models. Zhengzhou Nissan and Changan also grew thanks to hybrid and electric offerings.

In 2025, total new energy pickup sales reached 24,356 units, up 110% year-on-year. Pure electric pickups accounted for 16,960 units (65.5%), while hybrids totaled 8,396 units.

Year-end demand boosted December sales, signaling a market rebound. Although full-year sales fell slightly, the rapid growth of new energy pickups and the rise of emerging brands are reshaping the market. In 2026, continued adoption of electric and hybrid technology is expected to drive further growth in China’s pickup sector.