China’s Pickup Truck Market Posts Steady Sales Growth in April

China’s pickup truck market remained resilient in April 2026, supported by robust exports despite broader pressure on the domestic auto sector.

According to data released on May 18 by the China Automobile Dealers Association, pickup truck sales in China totaled 59,000 units in April, up 4.2% year-on-year, although down 15.8% from March. The April figure nevertheless marked the highest level for the month in the past five years.

Cumulative pickup truck sales for January-April reached 220,000 units, representing a 6.7% increase from the same period a year earlier.

Production also remained broadly stable. China produced 59,000 pickup trucks in April, up 0.6% year-on-year, while output for the first four months of 2026 rose 8.9% to 221,000 units.

601633.SH Great Wall Motor retained its dominant position in China’s pickup segment, supported by steady performance in both domestic and overseas markets.

China Pickup Truck OEM Sales Ranking — April 202

Several automakers also posted strong results amid continued export growth, including 000625.SZ Changan Automobile, 000550.SZ Jiangling Motors, SAIC Maxus, 600418.SH JAC Motors and Zhengzhou Nissan. Changan Automobile’s pickup sales surged 83% year-on-year in April.

In the domestic retail market, Great Wall Motor, Jiangling Motors, Zhengzhou Nissan, Radar Auto and Jiangxi Isuzu remained among the strongest-performing brands, reinforcing a competitive landscape still led by a single dominant player.

Exports continued to be a major growth driver for the sector.

China exported 31,000 pickup trucks in April, up 41% year-on-year, although exports edged down 4% from the previous month. Total exports in the January-April period climbed 34% to 113,000 units.

China Pickup Truck OEM Sales Ranking (Jan.–Apr. 2026)

Pickup exports now account for an increasingly significant share of overall market volume. Exports represented 45% of total pickup sales in 2024 and rose to 50% in 2025. In April 2026, the export share increased further to 53% as weakness in the broader domestic auto market persisted. For the first four months of the year, exports accounted for 52% of total pickup sales, maintaining the segment’s leading position among China’s vehicle categories in overseas expansion.

The new energy pickup segment, however, showed signs of slower momentum.

Sales of new energy pickups reached 73,000 units in 2025, up 243% year-on-year. In April 2026, sales stood at 7,000 units, down 11% from a year earlier but up 12% from March.

During the first four months of 2026, cumulative sales of new energy pickups totaled 26,000 units, down 2% year-on-year, indicating that growth in the segment lagged behind traditional fuel-powered pickups at the start of the year.

Still, industry expectations remain positive as electrification and the shift toward more passenger-oriented pickup models continue to expand the segment’s long-term potential.

Among new energy pickup makers, 002594.SZ BYD sold 4,500 units in April, while Geely Radar delivered 1,787 electric pickups. Zhengzhou Nissan sold 899 units, and Changan’s range-extended pickup reached sales of 394 units. Other automakers also continued expanding their presence in the segment.

Industry analysts expect China’s pickup market to maintain steady growth in the coming years, supported by rising domestic demand and continued export expansion.