China Has Already Exported More Cars Than Last Year

• In 2025, China exported 7.1 million vehicles in total, with about 6 million of them being passenger cars. 
• As of August, China has exported 6.2 million vehicles. This has already surpassed the number of vehicles exported for all of 2025.
• EV and PHEV models are a big reason for China's export growth. 

China’s car market has been odd lately; the industry keeps pumping out new models, and yet the market continues to shrink. China’s passenger car sales dropped 25% year over year in August amid broader economic weakness. Gas-powered cars have taken the brunt of the hit, as Chinese drivers continue to shift to cars with plugs.

However, the drop in China’s domestic sales is being offset by skyrocketing car exports from the  country. In the first eight months of the year, China already surpassed its 2025 record of car exports, and that’s thanks largely to the growth of EV and PHEV models. Globally, the world is going electric, and China is the undisputed king of offering as many electrified models as possible. 

Photo by: Geely

For the month of August, China’s car exports jumped a staggering 67.1% to 890,000 units exported, bringing the year-to-date total to 6.2 million passenger vehicles, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). The organization says that last year, the country exported about 7.1 million vehicles of all types, but just under 6 million passenger vehicles.

EV and PHEV models are largely buoying the export growth.

Chinese manufacturers have been trying to expand into international markets for years. They've made serious inroads across the globe, including in Europe, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. The models have increased in quality and desirability, while still maintaining attractive pricing. Even if some countries are enacting tariffs on Chinese imports so they don’t crush any homegrown car-making abilities, exports have surged overall.

One of the best examples is Australia. Chinese brands now make up nearly a third of Australia’s car market. Of course, there are some pure gas imports from companies like Great Wall Motors or SAIC, but the majority of sales are hybrid, EV, or PHEV models.

There are several reasons that Chinese manufacturers for the focus on exports. Whereas companies are locked in a brutal price war domestically, they can charge more abroad and register higher margins, analysts say. Plus, exports have become increasingly crucial as the companies contend with both massive capacity to build cars and a sales slowdown at home. 

2026 BYD Atto 3 Evo

Photo by: BYD

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