Volkswagen China chief expects China's passenger car market to decline by 20% in 2026

BEIJING, Sept 22 (Reuters) - China's passenger car market is expected to decline by about 20% in 2026, Volkswagen's top executive in China Ralf Brandstaetter said on Tuesday.

His comments come as the ⁠German auto giant battles a deepening crisis in its largest market weighed down by falling deliveries and slimmer profit margins.

The current contraction in the market in China was ⁠equivalent to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Brandstaetter told an industry summit.

Sales of China's ⁠domestic car market fell for the eleventh month in a ⁠row in August, though the country's car exports stayed ⁠robust the same month.

Reporting by Ju-min Park; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Louise Heavens

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