Data from the Passenger Car Association reveals that pickup truck production and sales show a characteristic second-quarter upswing, with May export performance being particularly strong.
In May 2026, the pickup truck market sold 61,000 units, representing a year-on-year increase of 16.3% and a month-on-month growth of 2.4%, placing it at the second-highest level for the month in the past five years.
From January to May 2026, cumulative sales reached 281,000 units, an increase of 8.6%.
On the production side, pickup truck output in May 2026 was 59,000 units, up 14.5% year-on-year.
Cumulative production for the January-May 2026 period was 280,000 units, growing 10.1%.
GWMOTOR continues to maintain a strong leading position in the pickup truck segment, with steady performance both domestically and internationally.
Boosted by sustained year-on-year growth in exports, Chongqing Changan Automobile Company Limited, Jiangling Motors, SAIC Maxus, Jianghuai Automobile, and Zhengzhou Nissan also performed strongly.
In the domestic pickup truck retail market, GWMOTOR, Jiangling Motors, Zhengzhou Nissan, RADAR Auto, and Jiangxi Isuzu performed well, maintaining the domestic market structure of "one dominant player and several strong competitors."
Pickup Truck Exports
In May 2026, national pickup truck exports totaled 36,000 units, up 26% year-on-year and 15% month-on-month.
From January to May 2026, national pickup truck exports reached 150,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 32%, with the industry's export share remaining at a high level.
In 2024, pickup truck exports accounted for 45% of total pickup sales, rising to 50% in 2025.
The cumulative export share reached 53% for 2026 year-to-date, with May 2026's export share hitting 60%, indicating significant improvement in exports of Chinese domestic brand pickups.
New Energy Pickups
In May 2026, new energy pickup sales were 9,000 units, growing 20% year-on-year and 24% month-on-month.
From January to May 2026, new energy pickup sales totaled 35,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 3%, forming a trend where the overall growth rate of new energy pickups slightly lags behind that of fuel-powered pickups.
With the development of electrification and passenger vehicle-oriented features, the market space for pickups is expected to gradually improve.
Within May's new energy pickup sales: BYD pickup overseas sales were 4,233 units, Geely's RADAR electric pickup sales were 2,318 units, Zhengzhou Nissan sold 1,509 units, and Changan's extended-range pickup sold 690 units.
Other pickup manufacturers also achieved a certain scale in new energy vehicle sales.
With the initiation and cultivation of the domestic new energy pickup market, it is anticipated that China's pickup truck sector will develop more rapidly in the future to meet both domestic and international demand.
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