Official data from industry analyst Cui Dongshu reveals that China's automobile exports reached 6.41 million units in the January-July period of 2026, marking a substantial 54% year-on-year increase compared to the same timeframe in 2025. July alone saw 1.09 million vehicles shipped overseas, representing a 57% jump from the previous year and a 2% sequential rise, underscoring the sustained strength and positive momentum of the export market. The primary growth drivers this year continue to be elevated global oil prices, enhanced competitiveness of Chinese products, and steadily expanding demand from markets in the Global South.
For July 2026, the top ten destinations for China's total vehicle exports were Russia with 94,700 units, the UK with 65,245, Mexico with 55,727, Belgium with 52,078, Australia with 51,263, the Philippines with 39,936, Thailand with 28,598, Saudi Arabia with 25,731, Italy with 25,386, and Spain with 25,094. The five markets showing the largest year-on-year volume increases were Russia with an additional 45,486 units, the UK with 33,454, Australia with 26,829, Belgium with 19,653, and Spain with 14,233.
Looking at the cumulative figures for the first seven months of 2026, the top ten export destinations were Russia with 542,857 units, Brazil with 427,673, the UK with 320,505, Australia with 289,086, Belgium with 271,808, Mexico with 265,882, the Philippines with 188,663, Italy with 180,256, the UAE with 168,569, and Algeria with 165,859. The leading contributors to the year-on-year growth during this period were Russia with an increase of 312,897 units, Brazil with 252,324, the UK with 152,302, Australia with 121,197, and Algeria with 107,481.
New energy vehicle (NEV) exports also demonstrated remarkable performance, with July 2026 shipments reaching 540,000 units, an 85% annual increase. The cumulative total for the first seven months stood at 2.96 million units, reflecting a robust 72% growth rate, with July's sequential performance against June being particularly strong. In terms of the powertrain mix for July 2026 exports, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 32% of the total, representing a 3 percentage point increase year-on-year, while plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) held an 18% share, up 5 percentage points, conventional hybrids remained steady at 7%, and pure gasoline vehicles saw their share decline by 8 percentage points to 35%.
The top ten markets for China's NEV exports in July 2026 were the UK with 51,411 units, Belgium with 49,400, Australia with 40,450, the Philippines with 36,843, Thailand with 27,976, South Korea with 17,788, Spain with 15,895, Indonesia with 15,800, Italy with 14,835, and Mexico with 12,387. The most significant year-on-year volume increases came from the UK with 29,146 additional units, Australia with 24,099, Belgium with 19,248, Thailand with 14,827, and the Philippines with 13,518.
For the January-July 2026 period, the leading NEV export destinations were Brazil with 306,534 units, Belgium with 258,617, the UK with 232,671, Australia with 207,576, the Philippines with 162,905, Thailand with 154,622, Germany with 95,576, Italy with 94,338, South Korea with 93,218, and Spain with 88,618. The largest contributors to growth were Brazil with an additional 184,616 units, Australia with 122,843, the UK with 118,362, Belgium with 83,201, and Thailand with 81,124.
Key Trends and Market Dynamics
The NEV export performance in the first seven months of 2026 has surpassed expectations, driven primarily by PHEVs and conventional hybrids replacing BEVs as the new growth engine. Notably, BEV truck exports have shown exceptional strength, emerging as a highlight in the commercial vehicle segment. The recovery of shipping capacity has significantly boosted July's export figures. Geographically, Chinese NEV exports are primarily directed toward Western Europe and Central and South America, while the Middle East market has encountered obstacles.
Historical Export Trajectory
China's automobile exports have maintained a high growth trajectory since surpassing the one-million-unit mark in 2021. After growth rates of 102% in 2021, over 50% in both 2022 and 2023, and a moderation to around 30% in 2024 and 2025, the 2026 January-July exports of 6.41 million units represent a 54% year-on-year increase, continuing the upward trend. The sector is exhibiting ultra-high-speed growth, and as long as the international market environment remains stable, there is substantial room for further expansion.
Monthly Export Patterns
Monthly data reveals a persistent pattern of strong export momentum in recent years, contrasting with a relatively sluggish domestic market. The export growth rate for the first seven months of 2026 has been notably robust, maintaining its growth impetus. Despite the outbreak of the US-Iran conflict, the diversification of export markets has minimized the external impact on China's auto export growth, which has continued to climb throughout 2026. The primary drivers remain high oil prices, enhanced product competitiveness, and sustained growth in Global South markets. Monthly trends also exhibit seasonal characteristics, with a summer uptick contrasting with domestic conditions. The strong export growth in early 2026 is also attributable to a weaker domestic market, prompting enterprises to intensify their focus on overseas opportunities.
Export Structure by Vehicle Type
This year's customs data shows divergent growth across vehicle categories. Passenger vehicle exports have seen their growth rate gradually rise to 57%, outpacing truck exports, which grew by 42%. While domestic fuel truck sales have remained stable, electric truck exports have performed particularly well recently. From a structural perspective, passenger vehicles have stabilized at around 85% of total exports since 2023. Truck exports have benefited significantly from electric truck sales, while bus exports have seen their share decline to relatively low levels. Since passenger vehicles are the primary focus of trade, the combined share of truck and bus exports stands at about 14%, slightly below their domestic commercial vehicle proportion.
Within the passenger vehicle segment, performance across main models is relatively balanced. In 2026, small passenger vehicles with nine seats or fewer have shown strong export performance, accounting for 45% of the segment's exports, with July reaching 44%. Despite the significant impact of reduced Tesla exports, domestic-brand electric vehicle exports saw good growth in July. Truck exports performed poorly in July, while pickup truck exports improved. Heavy-duty truck exports declined from their peak, but other truck categories showed stronger market performance. Among buses, large and medium-sized models have been relatively weak, while light bus exports rebounded in July.
Powertrain Export Dynamics
In 2025, passenger vehicle export growth slowed considerably, with gasoline vehicle exports particularly weak. However, in 2026, conventional hybrid passenger vehicles have demonstrated strong export growth, and PHEV passenger vehicles have shown the fastest growth. Truck and bus exports have remained stable. Fluctuations in exports to Russia and Europe are core growth drivers. In the first seven months of 2026, the share of NEVs in passenger vehicle exports has rebounded, while fuel vehicle share has declined notably, with conventional hybrids emerging as a standout performer. Exports of gasoline passenger vehicles, diesel trucks, and gasoline buses have seen significant declines. In July, exports of PHEV passenger vehicles, diesel trucks, and conventional hybrid passenger vehicles experienced good growth.
Domestic Export Hub Dynamics
Starting in 2024, Anhui province replaced Shanghai as the leading region for national auto exports, a position it has maintained in 2026. Shanghai's significance remains immense as a core hub of the Yangtze River Delta with strong spillover effects. In the first seven months of 2026, Anhui exported 1.23 million vehicles, buoyed by excellent performance from local companies like Chery and JAC, as well as new investments from companies such as BYD Company Limited (01211), which has established operations in Hefei. Shanghai's exports are characterized by high-end products from SAIC Motor Passenger and Tesla, commanding higher average prices. Anhui's recent strong performance has been aided by diversification, mitigating the volatility of the Russian market. In 2026, regions including Chongqing, Shandong, and Jiangxi have seen notable increases in their export contributions.
Regional Market Performance
China's auto exports have shown overall strength, with explosive growth in the EU and Africa, and commendable performance in Japan, South Korea, and Oceania. However, markets in Southeast Asia and Oceania are under some pressure. Initially concentrated in Central and South America and the EU, exports have shifted toward stronger performance in Southeast Asia and South Asia, and now show relatively strong characteristics in Central and South America, Europe, Russia, and Central Asia, with improvements also seen in Japan, South Korea, and the US. July exports to the Middle East were notably hindered by the impact of the US-Iran war.
A decline in average export prices has facilitated export growth. With the appreciation of the Renminbi, US dollar-denominated export prices have remained stable, enhancing the price competitiveness of Chinese vehicles in 2026. Following significant market upheaval in Russia and the withdrawal of other foreign automakers, China's exports to Russia have been substantial since 2023. After inventory destocking in 2025, exports have returned to normal levels in 2026. Exports to Belgium were high last year, and improved European relations this year have contributed to better performance in the region. In July, exports to the UAE fell by 50%, with even more severe contractions in other Middle Eastern countries. The Brazilian market has shown considerable strength recently, with local factory investments yielding positive results. Markets in the UK and Thailand have also seen some recovery this year.
Chinese automakers have heightened their risk awareness in the Russian market. Although Russian domestic sales did not decline significantly in 2025, Chinese exporters undertook aggressive inventory reduction. In 2026, exports to Russia have seen a strong recovery, with the first seven months showing substantial growth.
NEV Export Historical Performance
As China's domestic NEV market transitions from subsidy-driven to market-driven growth, the competitive strength of Chinese NEVs has increased significantly. NEV exports experienced explosive growth starting in 2021, entering a sustained high-growth phase. Despite policy interference from EU exports in 2024, annual NEV exports still reached 2.01 million units, a 16% year-on-year increase. In 2025, exports surged to 3.43 million units, a 70% increase. The first seven months of 2026 saw NEV exports of 2.96 million units, a remarkable 108% year-on-year growth.
NEV exports are overwhelmingly dominated by passenger vehicles, comprising 98% of the total, with commercial vehicles representing a smaller share. Electric truck exports have outperformed buses. The proportion of unlisted passenger vehicles driven by electrification remains high.
The entry of Tesla into China reshaped the export landscape, with Shanghai leading for several years. As domestic brands have risen, they have become the core of NEV exports. Recently, regions like Anhui have emerged as key contributors, with July seeing strong NEV export performance from Anhui, Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu. The average price of NEV exports has remained relatively stable and rising in 2026, indicating sound export performance.
Brazil, Belgium, and the UK in the EU are the primary directions for NEV exports in 2026. Markets in Turkey and Mexico have been relatively weak recently.
Fuel Vehicle Export Analysis
In 2024, China exported 3.48 million gasoline fuel vehicles, a 22% increase. This was followed by 3.55 million units in 2025, a modest 2% rise. The first seven months of 2026 saw exports of 2.32 million units, a 29% increase. This year has seen strong fuel vehicle performance in markets like Russia, Africa, and South Asia, while other regions have been generally average. Exports to the EU and Oceania have declined, reflecting a focus on high-quality development. Diesel vehicle exports have outperformed gasoline vehicles this year, with strong growth in Africa and Central and South America. Exports to Japan, South Korea, and the Middle East were poor in July. Conventional hybrid vehicles have seen exceptionally strong growth in Europe, Central and South America, and other Asian markets, showcasing the comprehensive improvement in Chinese passenger vehicle competitiveness. However, Middle East sales have plummeted, and hybrid performance in Russia and Central Asia has been average.
BEV and PHEV Export Deep Dive
In 2024, China exported 1.76 million BEVs, a 6% increase. This rose to 2.33 million in 2025, a 32% increase. The first seven months of 2026 saw BEV exports of 1.95 million units, a 59% increase, with July growing by a strong 63%. The EU remains the absolute core market for BEVs, while demand in Southeast Asia and Central and South America is relatively volatile. The Japanese and South Korean markets are showing clear upward momentum, but the Middle East market has suffered significant losses. Due to insufficient foreign infrastructure, and China's tendency toward high-end, large-sized BEVs, with a lack of good small electric vehicle products, there remains room for improvement in BEV exports.
PHEV exports in the first seven months of 2026 reached 1.1 million units, a 122% increase, with July alone seeing 190,000 units exported, a 166% surge. Apart from minimal demand in the US and Canada, Chinese PHEVs have performed exceptionally well in all other regions. Demand in the EU has exploded, and PHEV exports to the Middle East have generally increased.
Passenger Vehicle Export Details by Fuel Type
Fuel passenger vehicle exports have been primarily driven by PHEVs and conventional hybrids, with BEVs also showing strength, while fuel vehicle exports have maintained a steady trend. Fuel vehicles are predominantly in the 1.0-1.5 liter displacement range, reflecting the comprehensive product advantages of Chinese self-owned brands. After a sharp decline in 1.5-2.0 liter models in 2025, exports of this segment have recovered quickly this year, indicating that markets like Russia prefer high-end, high-priced SUVs. Diesel passenger vehicles have virtually no market. The product mix for electric vehicles is diversified, with significant improvement in high-end electric vehicle exports and good growth in entry-level PHEV exports.
For July 2026, the top destinations for Chinese fuel passenger vehicle exports were Russia with 81,250 units, Mexico with 32,640, Saudi Arabia with 18,031, Algeria with 17,027, Kazakhstan with 14,534, the UAE with 13,122, Belarus with 13,001, Malaysia with 11,768, South Africa with 10,102, and Kyrgyzstan with 9,829. The largest year-on-year increases came from Russia with an additional 39,764 units, Mexico with 14,804, South Africa with 5,946, Belarus with 4,702, and the US with 4,412.
In the first seven months of 2026, the top fuel passenger vehicle export markets were Russia with 482,028 units, Mexico with 146,074, Algeria with 117,968, Saudi Arabia with 96,948, Belarus with 77,718, Kazakhstan with 77,475, Brazil with 73,360, the UAE with 73,229, Malaysia with 69,803, and Kyrgyzstan with 68,691. The biggest growth contributors were Russia with 284,451 additional units, Algeria with 69,428, Kyrgyzstan with 37,383, Brazil with 36,723, and Peru with 32,078.
The primary markets for Chinese BEV passenger vehicle exports in July 2026 were Belgium with 35,789 units, Australia with 33,845, the Philippines with 27,323, Thailand with 26,193, the UK with 24,561, South Korea with 16,167, Indonesia with 14,705, Malaysia with 10,054, India with 9,931, and Colombia with 9,659. The most significant year-on-year increases were seen in Australia with 21,288 additional units, Thailand with 13,900, Belgium with 13,065, the UK with 10,095, and South Korea with 8,646.
For the January-July 2026 period, the top BEV passenger vehicle export destinations were Belgium with 180,463 units, Brazil with 150,892, Thailand with 148,984, Australia with 146,873, the Philippines with 124,651, the UK with 118,173, South Korea with 90,637, India with 62,859, Indonesia with 62,126, and Germany with 53,991. The largest contributors to growth were Brazil with 109,947 additional units, Australia with 93,787, Thailand with 79,136, Belgium with 54,296, and South Korea with 53,821.
In July 2026, the main export markets for PHEV passenger vehicles were the UK with 26,705 units, Belgium with 12,834, Italy with 10,382, the Philippines with 9,104, Jordan with 8,420, Mexico with 8,367, Russia with 7,875, Spain with 7,267, Israel with 6,068, and Australia with 5,870. The top markets for year-on-year growth were the UK with an additional 19,483 units, Jordan with 7,248, Italy with 6,962, the Philippines with 6,583, and Belgium with 5,738.
For the first seven months of 2026, the top PHEV passenger vehicle export destinations were Brazil with 154,230 units, the UK with 113,044, Belgium with 75,457, Italy with 56,495, the UAE with 53,738, Spain with 51,746, Australia with 47,176, Germany with 41,057, the Philippines with 36,950, and Russia with 34,926. The biggest growth drivers were the UK with 74,873 additional units, Brazil with 74,200, Italy with 43,661, Australia with 33,632, and Germany with 33,145.
In July 2026, the primary destinations for conventional hybrid passenger vehicle exports were the UK with 8,472 units, Italy with 7,173, Spain with 7,129, France with 6,765, Poland with 4,758, the UAE with 3,412, Australia with 2,975, Jordan with 2,596, Belgium with 2,312, and Israel with 1,950. The largest year-on-year increases were seen in Italy with 5,038 additional units, France with 5,001, Spain with 4,442, Poland with 3,643, and the UK with 3,351.
For the January-July 2026 period, the top conventional hybrid passenger vehicle export markets were the UK with 48,030 units, Italy with 44,945, Spain with 41,165, Brazil with 36,915, France with 31,955, Poland with 26,219, the UAE with 19,840, Australia with 16,523, Argentina with 14,826, and Jordan with 10,877. The largest contributors to growth were Italy with 28,940 additional units, Brazil with 26,198, Spain with 24,109, Poland with 23,147, and the UK with 22,755.
Truck Export Analysis
Truck exports have shown relatively modest growth in recent years, with their share of total auto exports gradually declining. However, in 2026, strong performance from BEV and diesel light trucks has improved their share. The truck market is primarily driven by gasoline and diesel trucks under 5 tons, with strong demand also seen for diesel heavy trucks in the 5-14 ton and over 20 ton categories.
Fuel truck export markets have remained generally stable among the top destinations. In the first seven months of 2026, key fuel truck export markets performed well. PHEV truck exports have been relatively strong recently, driven by the passenger car attributes of pickup trucks, which offer convenience for off-road use and cost advantages in overseas markets.
In July 2026, the main PHEV truck export markets included Argentina with 1,013 units, Australia with 604, Pakistan with 467, South Africa with 424, Cambodia with 328, New Zealand with 264, Saudi Arabia with 228, Ecuador with 127, the Philippines with 101, and Italy with 100. The largest year-on-year increases were in Argentina with 1,013 additional units, Pakistan with 463, South Africa with 419, Cambodia with 322, and New Zealand with 234.
For the cumulative period, the top ten PHEV truck export markets were Australia with 12,660 units, Argentina with 3,192, Pakistan with 1,891, Chile with 1,583, South Africa with 1,359, the UAE with 1,038, Brazil with 1,004, Mexico with 961, New Zealand with 919, and Colombia with 749. The most significant growth contributors were Argentina with 3,070 additional units, Pakistan with 1,870, the UAE with 1,026, Chile with 772, and Cambodia with 413.
BEV truck exports have surged recently, primarily due to explosive growth in special-purpose vehicles, which offer exceptional convenience and cost advantages in overseas markets.
Bus Export Analysis
Worldwide bus demand has seen a decline, leading to shrinking Chinese bus exports from 64,000 units in 2019 to 48,000 in 2022. However, with global demand recovery since 2023, Chinese bus exports reached 106,000 units in 2025. In the first seven months of 2026, BEV bus exports reached 9,600 units, a 6% decline, which is average. Diesel bus exports have grown from a low base, and gasoline-powered large and medium bus exports have been relatively strong.
Chinese fuel bus export markets are fragmented and primarily focused on less developed countries, making sustained and orderly export activities challenging. The BEV bus export market is relatively small with volatile data. In July 2026, the main export markets for BEV buses were Nepal with 321 units, Mexico with 222, Belgium with 186, Ethiopia with 163, the UK with 121, Israel with 91, Malaysia with 73, Pakistan with 68, Nigeria with 60, and Indonesia with 56. The largest year-on-year increases were seen in Mexico with 188 additional units, Nepal with 164, Ethiopia with 163, Belgium with 162, and Israel with 91.
For the full year 2026, the primary BEV bus export markets have been Nepal with 1,707 units, Norway with 648, Ethiopia with 583, Israel with 518, Mexico with 474, Belgium with 426, the UK with 387, Pakistan with 281, Chile with 268, and Portugal with 267. The most significant growth contributors were Ethiopia with 449 additional units, Mexico with 407, Belgium with 306, Norway with 301, and Pakistan with 266.
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