• GWM's overseas sales surged 50.93% year-on-year to 62,015 units in July, while domestic sales fell 27.23%.
• GWM's domestic sales in the January-July period were 338,521 units, down 22.25% year-on-year.

GWM (HKEX: 2333) saw a slight increase in sales in July, as robust overseas expansion continued to offset soft demand at home.

The Chinese automaker said on Sunday that it sold 108,067 vehicles in July, up 3.54% year-on-year. The figure was flat from June's 108,080 units.

In the January-July period, GWM sold 691,962 vehicles, up 2.64% year-on-year.

Overseas business was the sole source of growth. GWM's overseas sales reached 62,015 units in July, up 50.93% year-on-year and 3.07% from June.

Overseas markets accounted for 57.39% of the month's total sales, the second-highest share on record, trailing only the 58.79% seen in February this year.

In the first seven months of the year, cumulative overseas sales were 353,441 units, up 48.04% year-on-year and representing 51.08% of total sales.

The contraction in the domestic market continued. GWM's sales in China were 46,052 units in July, down 27.23% year-on-year and 3.88% from June.

From January to July, its cumulative domestic sales were 338,521 units, down 22.25% year-on-year.

In the new energy vehicle (NEV) segment, GWM sold 34,651 units in July, up a slight 0.17% year-on-year, ending seven straight months of declines.

In the first seven months, cumulative NEV sales were 179,285 units, down 8.06% year-on-year. NEVs accounted for 32.06% of July's total sales.

By brand, core brand Haval sold 56,272 vehicles in July, essentially flat year-on-year and down 6.66% from June. The brand's cumulative sales for January-July were 383,562 units, up 1.57% year-on-year.

Off-road brand Tank sold 17,228 vehicles in July, down 13.95% year-on-year but up 9.64% from June. Its cumulative sales in the first seven months were 109,881 units, down 11.16% year-on-year.

GWM launched the all-new Tank 300 on July 19 in an attempt to reverse the brand's decline. The new model comes in gasoline, diesel and plug-in hybrid versions, starting at 199,800 yuan ($29,430).

Premium brand Wey sold 7,725 vehicles in July, down 23.10% year-on-year but up 7.43% from June. The brand's cumulative sales for January-July were 52,239 units, still up 17.29% year-on-year.

GWM opened pre-orders for the Wey V8X on July 29, the second model built on the Global One S platform.

The pickup business was a bright spot. GWM sold 16,006 pickups in July, up 16.22% year-on-year and 14.23% from June. Cumulative sales in the first seven months were 108,518 units, down 1.35% year-on-year.

GWM will launch the Haval H10 on August 5, the first boxy SUV built on the Global One platform, with a limited-time price starting at 214,800 yuan. The model is intended to help the company break into the family market above 200,000 yuan.

($1 = 6.7894 yuan)