NIO IncCEO says China's auto market is saturated and no longer a growth market, with domestic sales weakening.

NIO CEO William Li said China’s auto sector has likely moved past its golden era, with domestic car sales continuing to weaken into May even as exports held up. Li noted that the rebound in the world’s largest auto market has not materialized and that China’s automobile ownership has reached 370 million vehicles, calling it no longer a growth market but a saturated one. He stressed that NIO remains mainly focused on China, while its overseas shipments launched in 2021 through Norway remain negligible. Li added that plug-in hybrids and internal combustion vehicles remain better suited for global markets, underlining a split strategy across powertrains. NIO plans to grow spending on smart-driving computing resources fivefold this year compared to 2025, and its shares jumped 10.5% in Hong Kong trading, marking the strongest daily percentage gain since March 11.
NIO IncCEO says China's auto market is saturated and no longer a growth market, with domestic sales weakening.