A major shift! China's latest automobile export rankings are out.
According to statistics from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, national automobile sales reached 15.653 million units in the first half of this year, representing a year-on-year increase of 11.4%. Among these, new energy vehicle sales totaled 6.937 million units, up 40.3% year-on-year, accounting for 44.3% of total new vehicle sales. Meanwhile, Chinese automakers are accelerating their global expansion efforts, injecting new momentum into the global automotive industry landscape through technological innovation and localization strategies. In the first half of the year, China exported 3.083 million vehicles, up 10.4% year-on-year. Among these, EVs exports grew rapidly, reaching 1.06 million units, up 75.2% year-on-year.
According to data compiled by Yiche, the top three destinations for Chinese automobile exports in the first half of 2025 were Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, and Russia, with export volumes of 234,500 units, 214,300 units, and 171,000 units, respectively. Mexico saw a year-on-year increase of 30.7%, the United Arab Emirates saw a year-on-year increase of 58.5%, while Russia saw a sharp decline of 59.2%.
Mexico has become China's top automotive export destination, primarily due to a significant increase in demand for BYD vehicles in Mexico. Its main models, such as the Seagull and Song PLUS DM-i, have already been launched in Mexico. The rapid growth in sales in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is mainly attributed to the UAE's role as a hub for automotive imports in the Middle East. This year, Geely's exports to Middle Eastern markets such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE have driven an overall increase in import volumes. As for Russia, it is the country with the largest decline on the list, with a drop of 59.2%. Analysts note that this is due to two factors: first, Russia has increased car loan interest rates and scrappage taxes on imported vehicles this year, leading to higher purchasing costs for local consumers and a decline in terminal sales; second, Chinese automakers had high inventory levels in Russia prior to this year, resulting in sales bottlenecks.
Among other countries, the fourth to tenth places on the list are occupied by Brazil, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Australia, the Philippines, and Kazakhstan, among others. Brazil saw a year-on-year decline of 7.9%, while Kazakhstan was the country with the largest increase on the list, growing by 105.0% year-on-year.
Looking at automakers, Chery Automobile maintained its top position with sales of 544,900 units, but this represented a year-on-year increase of only 3.5%. Exports have always been a strength for Chery. As a veteran in China's automotive exports, Chery has been deeply rooted in overseas markets for years, establishing a comprehensive sales network and production bases. Especially in regions like Russia, the Middle East, and Latin America, Chery vehicles are highly favored by local consumers. Additionally, in the face of global trade uncertainties, Chery has accelerated its localization of overseas production, effectively avoiding tariff barriers.
BYD followed closely behind, with cumulative exports of 443,100 vehicles in the first half of the year, representing a year-on-year increase of 118.2%, making it the Chinese manufacturer with the highest growth rate among the top ten automakers. Leveraging its advantages in core technologies such as batteries, electric motors, and electronic control systems, BYD has launched a series of models that are highly favored by overseas consumers. Additionally, BYD has actively promoted localized production and independent shipping, effectively addressing high tariff barriers in regions like Europe and the United States, further enhancing its competitiveness in overseas markets.
SAIC Passenger Vehicle ranked third with 242,600 units sold, down 4.1% year-on-year. The decline in exports may be attributed to factors such as intensified competition in certain markets and supply chain instability. SAIC Passenger Vehicle's primary export brand is MG. Despite the decline in export volumes, the MG brand has demonstrated strong market performance in regions such as Europe, Southeast Asia, and India. SAIC's deepening reforms have yielded significant results, with its independent brands and new energy vehicles becoming the primary drivers of growth. However, SAIC has consistently focused on technological innovation and product upgrades, and is expected to regain growth momentum in overseas markets in the future.
Geely's export volume reached 182,000 units in the first half of the year, representing a year-on-year increase of 7.4%. Through a series of overseas acquisitions and strategic partnerships, Geely has rapidly enhanced its brand's international influence. Its Volvo and Lynk & Co brands have performed exceptionally well in the European market, particularly the Lynk & Co brand, which has successfully attracted the attention of European young consumers with its unique design, advanced technology, and premium positioning. Additionally, Geely is actively expanding its presence in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, continuously expanding its overseas market footprint. Through localized production and marketing, Geely Automobile better meets the needs of local consumers, driving growth in its export business.
In addition, Great Wall Motors exported 167,600 vehicles, down 5.5% year-on-year. Changan Automobile exported 146,900 vehicles, down 3.9% year-on-year. SAIC-GM-Wuling exported 111,900 vehicles, up 20.0% year-on-year.
Tesla China exported 101,100 vehicles, a year-on-year decline of 31.9%. Although Tesla is a globally renowned electric vehicle brand, its export performance has seen a significant decline, which may be attributed to intensified competition in China's electric vehicle market, changes in policies in certain overseas markets, and Elon Musk's series of political actions.
In the rankings, Jiangsu Yueda Kia exported 85,800 vehicles, representing a year-on-year increase of 20.6%. As a joint venture brand, while Yueda Kia has performed averagely in the domestic market, its domestic production for export has become a new growth driver for its performance. In recent years, with the rise of Chinese domestic automotive brands and the rapid development of the global new energy vehicle market, joint venture brands have faced increasing challenges in overseas markets. Jiangsu Yueday Kia needs to accelerate product updates and upgrades, enhance technological capabilities, and adapt to market changes to revitalize its export business. Additionally, Beijing Hyundai has also begun exporting, with 34,800 units exported in the first half of the year, representing a year-on-year increase of 248.4%, making it the automaker with the largest growth rate on the list.
