In February 2026, during the traditional off-season of the Chinese New Year, the Chinese automotive market witnessed a significant "reshaping of the landscape". When the monthly vehicle sales rankings were officially released, a clear conclusion emerged: under the dual influence of policy rollbacks and the holiday off-season, the rapid advance of new energy vehicles temporarily "fizzled out", while traditional fuel vehicles, which were considered to be gradually declining, proved their solid market position with solid sales data.

The sedan sales rankings in February seem like a trip back in time. Among the top ten, new energy vehicles (NEVs) only occupy two spots, while the remaining eight are all traditional fuel vehicles. Contrary to public opinion predictions, fuel vehicles have not suffered a "defeat". Instead, they have firmly established themselves in the mainstream market with an almost stubborn attitude. Looking back to 2025, NEV models shared the sedan market with traditional fuel vehicles for many months. Among them, the Qin PLUS has been performing well, while the Wuling Hongguang MINI EV has gained a coveted market share due to its low price. Other models such as the Haiou and Wuling Bingo S have also achieved remarkable results. However, this year, these models have gradually disappeared from the scene.

In February, among the top ten best-selling passenger cars, only two electric vehicles made the list: the champion Geely Starry and the fifth-ranked Tesla Model 3. Geely Starry topped the list with an overwhelming 27,362 units sold, becoming the only model to break the 20,000-unit sales mark this month, standing as a lone survivor among new energy vehicles during the off-season. Tesla Model 3, with 12,920 units sold, carved out a niche amidst the sea of fuel-powered vehicles.

The formation of this pattern is undoubtedly due to objective factors such as the reduction of effective working days during the Spring Festival holiday and the release of consumer demand, but it also deeply reveals the real background of the current market: after the reduction of new energy purchase tax subsidies, entry-level consumption is still sensitive to prices, while fuel vehicles still firmly grasp the basic market of mainstream household use with mature industrial chains, stable value retention rates, and significant discounts in the terminal market.

The most eye-catching brand is Volkswagen, which truly embodies the concept of "a veteran with a sharp edge". Among the top ten best-selling brands, Volkswagen brands alone account for four, making them the biggest winners. SAIC Volkswagen's Lavida secured the silver medal with sales of 16,111 units, demonstrating the strong user base of this "national family sedan" perennial. Following closely behind were the Passat and Sagitar, which secured third and fourth place with sales of 13,988 and 13,803 units respectively. The Magotan also secured eighth place with sales of 11,232 units. The simultaneous strength of the "German duo" and the "A+ class benchmark" formed the strongest defense in the February auto market.

Not only the mass market, but also Japanese and domestic fuel-powered vehicles performed robustly. GAC Toyota Camry ranked ninth with 11,172 units, maintaining its dignity in the competitive midsize car market. Chery Airize 8 and Geely Xingrui ranked sixth and seventh with 12,130 and 12,411 units respectively, proving that excellent domestic fuel-powered vehicles still have strong appeal. Changan Yidong also maintained its position in the top ten with 11,118 units.

Overall, Volkswagen remains strong, and its self-owned brands are also excellent.

The sedan sales rankings in February are like a mirror, reflecting the complexity of the transition period. Electrification is the certain future, but fuel-powered vehicles are by no means a fading sunset.