China Pickup Market Dips to 15,101 Units in February 2026

China’s pickup market saw a sharp slowdown in February 2026, with total sales reaching just 15,101 units (excluding special-purpose pickups and exports). This represents a 27.45% drop from January and a 30.42% decline compared with February 2025 — the lowest February sales figure in three years.

Sales by fuel type

Diesel pickups: 10,693 units, down 23.63% month-on-month, down 36.28% year-on-year

Gasoline pickups: 2,583 units, down 45.49% MoM, down 26.87% YoY

Pure electric pickups: 664 units, down 48.73% MoM, down 15.95% YoY

Gasoline/CNG dual-fuel pickups: 63 units, up 5% MoM, down 3.08% YoY

Gasoline hybrid pickups: 1,018 units, up 74.61% MoM, up 188.39% YoY

CNG pickups: 80 units, down 41.18% MoM, down 56.04% YoY

Hybrid pickups emerged as the standout segment. Despite overall market declines, hybrid sales surged, reflecting growing buyer interest in fuel-efficient vehicles that also offer longer driving range. Pure electric pickups continued to struggle, highlighting the segment’s vulnerability to policy shifts and limited market scale. Traditional gasoline and diesel pickups also fell after the post-Spring Festival demand peak. Overall, the market is increasingly diverging along technological lines, with hybrids poised as a key growth driver.

Regional performance

Only Hubei and Beijing reported year-on-year sales growth in February. Other regions, including long-standing pickup strongholds in Southwest China and southern markets such as Guangdong, recorded declines. Market recovery alone is no longer sufficient to drive growth, and regional disparities are becoming more pronounced.

Brand performance

The top ten brands in February 2026 were:

Great Wall: 6,527 units

JMC: 2,341 units

Zhengzhou Nissan: 2,252 units

Jiangxi Isuzu: 1,112 units

JAC: 658 units

Foton: 492 units

Radar: 365 units

SAIC Maxus: 360 units

Ford: 354 units

Changan: 231 units

All top ten brands experienced month-on-month declines. Great Wall fell 28.94%, JMC 24.41%, Zhengzhou Nissan 24.66%, while Radar and SAIC Maxus dropped over 40%.

Year-on-year, Zhengzhou Nissan was the only top-ten brand to post positive growth, rising 22.66% and leading the new energy pickup segment with 714 units sold. All other top brands fell at least 20% YoY, with Changan plunging more than 50%. Brands heavily dependent on new energy pickups were most affected by recent tax policy adjustments, while Zhengzhou Nissan’s strength in traditional fuel and commercial pickups helped it buck the trend.

Cumulative January–February shares were as follows: Great Wall 43.75% (down from January), JMC 15.14%, Zhengzhou Nissan 14.59%, Jiangxi Isuzu 6.87%, JAC 4.14%. Other brands: Foton 3.44%, Radar 2.90%, SAIC Maxus 2.71%, Ford 2.10%, Changan 1.37%, others 3%.

New energy pickup sales totaled 1,682 units in February, down 10.44% MoM but up 47.16% YoY, reflecting slower growth. Hybrid pickups gained significant share, emerging as the main driver of market growth. Pure electric pickups fell to 664 units (39.48% of new energy sales), down sharply from their long-term share of nearly 70%, as buyers increasingly favor hybrids for a balance of cost and range.

The Chinese pickup market is moving away from broad-based growth. Diverging technology paths, regional differences, and intensified brand competition indicate that policy-driven growth alone is no longer sustainable. Future success will hinge on balancing technology, regulatory shifts, and real customer needs. For hybrid pickups, the current market trough may well mark the start of a new growth cycle.