On January 3rd, data jointly released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) and the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) showed that my country's automobile exports reached 8 million units in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 24.7%, with export value climbing to US$152 billion, further increasing its share of total national exports to 4.1%. This marks the third consecutive year that my country has maintained its position as the world's largest automobile exporter since first achieving this in 2023, signifying that the Chinese automotive industry has officially entered the "Globalization 2.0 era," achieving a profound transformation from "scale expansion" to "value creation."

 

CAAM data shows that my country's new energy vehicle (NEV) exports performed particularly strongly in 2025, with a total of 3.01 million units exported throughout the year, a year-on-year increase of 62%.  In November alone, NEV exports approached 200,000 units, a surge of 87% year-on-year. From a development trajectory perspective, China's automobile exports have achieved a stepped leap, with exports of only 1.08 million units in 2020, a more than six-fold increase in five years.  The proportion of NEV exports increased from less than 10% in 2020 to 37.6% in 2025, becoming the core engine driving export growth. Cui Dongshu, Secretary-General of the CPCA, pointed out that the explosive growth of new energy vehicles confirms China's global competitive advantage in electrification and intelligentization, forming an irreplaceable industrial barrier.

 

At the enterprise level, the advantages of Chinese automakers' overseas "group army" continue to be highlighted, with leading companies performing remarkably well. Chery Group retained the top spot with 1.34 million units exported, a year-on-year increase of 17.2%, with monthly exports exceeding 100,000 units for seven consecutive months.  Its cumulative overseas users exceeded 5.7 million, and overseas revenue accounted for nearly 50% of its total revenue. BYD's annual overseas sales exceeded 1 million units for the first time, a surge of 145% year-on-year, with products covering more than 60 countries and regions worldwide, and accelerated localization of production. SAIC Group's overseas sales reached 969,000 units, with the MG brand's sales in the European market exceeding 300,000 units, and the MG Hybrid+ family experiencing a 300% year-on-year increase, demonstrating strong competitiveness in niche markets. Geely, Changan, Great Wall, and other automakers all ranked among the top ten exporters, with independent brands accounting for 92% of the total national exports, further consolidating their dominant position. Notably, China's automotive exports have upgraded from simply exporting complete vehicles to a comprehensive "technology + production capacity + service + standards" ecosystem model. In 2025, car manufacturers' overseas localization strategies entered a period of intensive implementation: SAIC released its overseas strategy 3.0, building a global system of "100+ overseas parts bases + 4 major manufacturing centers + 3 major R&D centers," and establishing China's first self-operated fleet for complete vehicle logistics; Chery created a "1+7+N" global R&D center layout, collaborating in Spain to revitalize the local EBRO brand, and deploying humanoid robot service terminals in Malaysia, deeply integrating into the local industrial ecosystem; companies such as BYD and Great Wall accelerated the construction of complete vehicle factories in Mexico to cope with regional trade policy changes and build a localized supply chain loop.

 

Driven by technological innovation, the "value upgrade" trend in China's automotive exports is significant. Although the average price of exported cars fluctuated slightly in the first 11 months of 2025, the total export value increased substantially due to a surge in sales, with the proportion of mid-to-high-end models exceeding 35%. A UBS research report pointed out that Chinese car manufacturers' global market share has increased to 25%, and is expected to exceed one-third by 2030.  Technological influence continues to strengthen, with my country accounting for 65.4% of highly influential research papers in the electric battery field globally, and its global patent share in the electric propulsion field increasing by more than 10 times compared to 2010. Disruptive technologies such as solid-state batteries are accelerating their application, injecting lasting momentum into export growth.

 

Facing a complex global trade environment, Chinese car manufacturers have demonstrated strong adaptability. In September 2025, Mexico raised tariffs on Chinese car imports to 50%, and Chinese car companies hedged against the risks by stocking up in advance, accelerating localized production, and expanding into alternative markets. In terms of market layout, Mexico replaced Russia as my country's largest car export destination, with exports reaching 322,000 units from January to July 2025. Emerging markets such as ASEAN, the Middle East, and Latin America all saw growth exceeding 30%, while maintaining a foothold in mainstream European and American markets through joint ventures and collaborations, forming a diversified pattern of "breakthroughs in emerging markets and consolidation in traditional markets." The pace of collaboration across the industrial chain in overseas expansion is accelerating. Core component companies such as CATL and Gotion High-Tech are simultaneously establishing overseas battery factories and recycling systems. In 2025, direct foreign investment in the automotive manufacturing industry reached US$3.86 billion, a year-on-year increase of 46.2%.

 

Industry experts say that China's three consecutive years of leading in automobile exports is a concentrated manifestation of the advantages of the entire industrial chain. From "exchanging market for technology" to "exchanging technology for market," the Chinese automotive industry has completed a historic transformation in forty years. Zhu Huarong, a representative of the National People's Congress, suggested that a basic common database for overseas automotive markets should be accelerated to provide risk warnings and consulting services for enterprises, thus supporting the globalization process. Looking ahead, with the continuous release of overseas production capacity and the deepening of technological innovation, it is expected that new energy vehicle exports will continue to maintain breakthrough growth in 2026. Chinese automobiles are reshaping the global industrial landscape with an ecosystem-based approach to overseas expansion, propelling "Made in China" to the center of the world stage.

 

According to data from the China Passenger Car Association, from January to November 2025, the top five destinations for Chinese automobile exports were Mexico, the UAE, Russia, Belgium, and Brazil; new energy vehicle exports were concentrated in Asian, European, and Latin American markets, with exports to Asia increasing by 71% year-on-year, and those to Latin America surging by 283% year-on-year. This diversified market layout effectively mitigated the risks of relying on a single region.