Chinese Car Market in KSA 2025: Sales Trends, Leaders, and Surprises

Saudi Arabia : The Chinese car market in KSA 2025 has shown mixed results. Some of the brands are losing ground while others achieve remarkable growth.

• Chinese car sales 2025 reached 47,728 units in H1, down 14.2% from last year.
• Changan, MG, and Geely all recorded declines in KSA.
• Jetour and Haval stood out with strong double-digit growth.

The Saudi automotive market remains one of the most competitive in the Middle East, and 2025 is no exception. The performance of Chinese cars in KSA during the first half of the year has brought both setbacks and surprises.

While overall demand slipped, a few emerging names managed to capture new ground, reflecting shifting buyer preferences and stronger competition from Japanese and Korean rivals.

Chinese Car Sales in KSA 2025: Market Overview

Between January and June 2025, total car sales in Saudi Arabia reached 411,254 units. Out of these, 47,728 were Chinese models, giving Chinese brands an 11.6% market share.

This marks a decline of 14.2% compared to the same period in 2024, when 55,626 units were sold. Non-Chinese manufacturers continued to dominate with 88.4% of the market, driven by familiar leaders like Toyota, Hyundai, and Kia.

Performance of Leading Chinese Brands

Changan remained the most popular Chinese car brand in KSA but still saw its numbers fall from 14,359 units in 2024 to 11,594 units in 2025, a 19.2% drop. MG, another well-known brand, recorded an even steeper decline, falling 34.1% to 10,200 units. Geely followed the same downward trend, with sales sliding by 30.9% to 9,545 units.

These declines highlight the challenges of relying heavily on mid-size SUVs and sedans at a time when Saudi buyers are showing growing interest in hybrid and electric options.

Growth Stories: Jetour, Haval, and Tank

While the major players struggled, some Chinese brands achieved impressive results:

• Jetour: 8,264 units sold, up 63.1% from last year.
• Haval: 6,131 units sold, marking 37.2% growth.
• Tank: 918 units sold, up 17.8% despite a smaller lineup.

Jetour’s T1 and T2 SUVs attracted families with their affordable pricing, while Haval capitalised on refreshed models and marketing. Tank succeeded in carving out a niche in premium off-road SUVs.

In contrast, Great Wall Pickup slipped further, losing 34.3% and settling at 1,076 units.

Why Did Sales Decline?

Several factors explain the drop in Chinese car sales 2025:

• Higher prices caused by rising shipping and material costs.
• Stronger competition from new Japanese and Korean models.
• Shipping and production delays affecting availability.
• Buyers becoming more selective after early excitement faded.
• Economic changes that shifted focus toward flexible financing.

Market Outlook for 2025

The second half of 2025 will be a decisive phase for the Chinese car market in KSA. Forecasts suggest established names like Changan and MG may adjust their pricing strategies and strengthen aftersales services. Meanwhile, Jetour and Haval are expected to continue their upward trend, helped by products and pricing strategies aligned with Saudi consumer needs.

As competition tightens, the most popular Chinese car brand in Saudi Arabia by the year’s end may not be the same as it was in 2024, making this one of the most closely watched battles in the automotive sector.