Retail: In May 2025, China’s passenger vehicle retail sales reached 1.932 million units, up 13.3% YoY and 10.1% MoM. Cumulative retail sales from January to May totaled 8.811 million units, a 9.1% YoY increase.
“China’s auto market surged in March 2025, with NEVs hitting 51% retail penetration as domestic brands dominated, while easing price wars and export pressures shaped a stabilizing yet competitive landscape.”
This isn’t the first time an EV’s “smart” systems turned deadly after a collision, but the SU7’s disastrous safety flaws — just weeks after its launch — have reignited a furious debate: Can we trust “disruptor” brands with lives?
This quiet revolution in vehicle customization represents a fundamental shift in China’s automotive landscape, where personalization has evolved from an underground hobby to a legitimate industry projected to reach RMB 160 billion (USD 22.3 billion) by 2025, according to the 2023 China Automotive Customization and Modification Industry White Paper.