China's automobile exports for the first five months of 2026 reached 4.24 million units, marking a 49% increase compared to the same period in 2025.

Exports for the month of May alone totaled 987,000 vehicles, representing a 42% year-on-year and 5% month-on-month increase, indicating a robust annual growth trend with stable sequential performance.

New energy vehicle (NEV) exports in May stood at 463,000 units, a 59% year-on-year increase.

Cumulative NEV exports from January to May reached 1.89 million units, surging 61%, with May's performance showing significant strength compared to April.

Key Export Destinations in May 2026

The top ten destinations for China's total auto exports in May were Russia (94,301 units), Brazil (90,242 units), Australia (54,027 units), Mexico (46,156 units), the Philippines (39,643 units), Thailand (39,626 units), the UK (38,700 units), Italy (32,427 units), Algeria (27,596 units), and Belgium (26,803 units).

The top five countries with the largest year-on-year export volume increases were Russia (72,362 units), Brazil (42,772 units), Thailand (29,326 units), Italy (22,207 units), and Australia (20,670 units).

Year-to-Date Export Leaders

For the cumulative period from January to May, the top ten export destinations were Brazil (385,813 units), Russia (364,710 units), the UK (194,238 units), Australia (178,641 units), Mexico (164,955 units), Belgium (162,758 units), Italy (130,098 units), the UAE (129,054 units), Algeria (109,575 units), and Thailand (106,217 units).

The top five for year-on-year volume growth were Brazil (244,737 units), Russia (210,285 units), the UK (86,103 units), Algeria (82,086 units), and Italy (73,457 units).

Powertrain Mix in May Exports

The breakdown of China's auto exports by powertrain in May was as follows: battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 29% (down 5 percentage points year-on-year), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) for 17% (up 4 p.p.), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) for 9% (up 4 p.p.), and pure internal combustion engine vehicles for 35% (down 3 p.p.).

NEV Export Destinations in May

The top ten destinations for NEV exports in May were Brazil (67,161 units), Australia (45,006 units), Thailand (38,670 units), the Philippines (34,325 units), the UK (24,973 units), Belgium (24,595 units), Italy (14,778 units), Spain (13,933 units), Mexico (13,784 units), and South Korea (13,343 units).

The largest year-on-year increases were seen in Brazil (31,666 units), Australia (30,687 units), Thailand (30,078 units), the Philippines (12,663 units), and Italy (9,217 units).

Cumulative NEV Exports (Jan-May)

For the first five months of the year, the leading NEV export markets were Brazil (289,558 units), Belgium (154,646 units), the UK (132,570 units), Australia (122,022 units), Thailand (99,425 units), the Philippines (83,691 units), Italy (69,431 units), Germany (68,241 units), South Korea (63,351 units), and Spain (58,030 units).

The most significant cumulative volume gains were in Brazil (183,960 units), Australia (65,247 units), the UK (59,343 units), Italy (52,993 units), and Thailand (46,991 units).

Performance Overview

China's NEV exports from January to May 2026 exceeded expectations, primarily driven by plug-in hybrids and hybrids replacing pure electric vehicles as new growth drivers.

Notably, exports of pure electric commercial trucks performed strongly, becoming a highlight in the commercial vehicle NEV export segment.

Analysis of Overall Export Trends

The sustained growth momentum in 2026 is attributed to the enhanced competitiveness of Chinese products and the continued expansion of markets in the Global South, with Brazil making a substantial contribution.

Export trends in recent years continue to show seasonal characteristics.

The robust export growth in early 2026 is also linked to a relatively sluggish domestic market, which has prompted companies to increase their focus and capabilities in overseas markets.

Monthly data indicates that China's auto exports have maintained a strong upward trajectory, recently characterized by a divergence where exports rise while the domestic market remains soft.

Despite geopolitical events, the diversified nature of China's export markets has minimized the impact on its auto export growth rate, which has continued to climb in 2026.

Powertrain and Market Structure Shifts

Regarding powertrain structure, while gasoline passenger vehicle exports saw lower growth last year, hybrid and plug-in hybrid passenger vehicle exports have been exceptionally strong this year.

Truck and bus exports have been stable, with fluctuations in passenger vehicle exports to Russia and Europe being a core growth driver.

The share of new energy in passenger vehicle exports has rebounded in 2026, with a noticeable decline in the share of internal combustion engine vehicles and a remarkable rise for hybrids.

Exports of gasoline passenger cars and diesel/gasoline buses have declined significantly.

May saw good growth in exports of plug-in hybrid passenger vehicles, pure electric trucks, and hybrid passenger vehicles.

Regional Export Dynamics

Anhui province has maintained its position as the top regional exporter since surpassing Shanghai in 2024.

From January to May 2026, Anhui exported 800,000 vehicles, benefiting from strong local manufacturers and the presence of companies like BYD in Hefei.

Shanghai's exports are characterized by higher average prices, led by SAIC Motor Passenger Vehicle and Tesla.

Anhui's export performance has been relatively strong, driven by Chery and JAC, with good diversification recently mitigating volatility in the Russian market.

The contribution of Chongqing, Shandong, and Jiangxi to national auto exports has increased significantly in 2026.

Overall, China's auto exports are performing strongly, with surges to the EU and Africa, and relatively excellent performance in exports to Japan, South Korea, Africa, and Oceania.

Exports to Southeast Asia and Oceania face greater pressure.

The export landscape is gradually shifting, with Central and South America, Europe, Russia, and Central Asia showing relative strength, while exports to Japan, South Korea, and the US have also improved.

Exports to the Middle East were notably hindered in May due to geopolitical conflicts.

Price Competitiveness and Market Recovery

Declining average export prices, coupled with a stable US dollar price despite RMB appreciation, have enhanced the price competitiveness of Chinese auto exports in 2026.

Following the major shift in the Russian market and the exit of other foreign brands, Chinese exports to Russia increased significantly from 2023, underwent destocking in 2025, and returned to a normal state in 2026.

Exports to Europe have also improved this year with better relations.

The strong performance in the Brazilian market recently is partly due to the effectiveness of local manufacturing investments by Chinese automakers.

Markets like Peru and Thailand have shown some recovery this year.

New Energy Vehicle Export Trajectory

As China's domestic NEV market transitions from subsidy-driven to market-driven, the global competitiveness of its NEVs has grown substantially.

NEV exports exploded in 2021 and have since remained in a high-growth phase.

Despite policy disruptions in the EU in 2024, annual NEV exports that year still reached 2.01 million units, up 16%.

Exports grew to 3.43 million units in 2025, a 70% increase, and reached 1.89 million units in the first five months of 2026, up 61%.

In May 2026, NEV exports were 457,000 units, a 51% year-on-year increase, though the month-on-month performance from April was weaker.

Approximately 97% of NEV exports are passenger vehicles, with commercial vehicles accounting for a smaller share, though NEV trucks are performing better than buses.

The export landscape has evolved with Tesla's entry into China, initially making Shanghai the long-term leader.

With the rise of domestic brands, they have become the core of NEV exports, and recently, regions like Anhui have emerged strongly.

In May, Anhui, Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu performed well in NEV exports.

The average export price for NEVs remained relatively stable in 2026.

NEV Market Diversification

NEV export growth showed divergence in 2026.

Exports are primarily directed to European and Asian markets, with Brazil surpassing Belgium this year to become the top NEV export market, driven by local manufacturing investments.

Most major NEV export markets saw good growth.

Markets like Germany and Italy saw outstanding NEV export growth, while Mexico weakened and Thailand's performance was relatively average.

Brazil, Belgium, the UK, and other EU nations were the main destinations for NEV exports in 2026.

Markets like Turkey and Mexico were weaker recently.

Internal Combustion Engine Vehicle Trends

Gasoline vehicle exports in 2024 were 3.48 million units, up 22%; in 2025 they were 3.55 million units, up 2%; and from January to May 2026 they were 1.57 million units, up 27%.

Gasoline vehicle exports to markets like Russia, Africa, and South Asia were strong this year, while other markets performed averagely, with notable declines in the EU and Oceania, reflecting a shift towards higher-quality development.

Diesel vehicle exports outperformed gasoline vehicles, achieving strong growth in Africa and Central/South America.

Exports to the Middle East in May were poor.

Hybrid vehicle exports to Europe, Central/South America, and other Asian markets were exceptionally strong, demonstrating the全面提升 comprehensive competitiveness of Chinese passenger vehicles.

However, sales in the Middle East plummeted, and hybrid performance in Russia/Central Asia was average.

BEV and PHEV Export Analysis

Pure electric vehicle (BEV) exports in 2024 were 1.68 million units, up 6%; in 2025 they were 2.32 million units, up 38%; and from January to May 2026 they were 1.194 million units, up 46%, with May growing 42%.

The EU remains the absolute dominant market for BEVs, while demand in Southeast Asia and Central/South America is more volatile.

The Japan-South Korea market has risen noticeably, but the Middle East market suffered significant losses.

Due to a lack of overseas infrastructure and a Chinese BEV focus on high-end, larger models with a shortage of good small EVs, there is still room for improvement in BEV exports.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) exports from January to May 2026 were 695,000 units, up 98%, with May exports of 173,000 units up 67%.

Chinese PHEVs performed prominently in most regions except for North America where demand is low.

Demand for Chinese PHEVs in the EU exploded, and exports to countries like Turkey in the Middle East also grew.

Passenger Vehicle Export Segmentation

Passenger vehicle exports are primarily driven by PHEVs and HEVs, with BEVs also performing strongly, while internal combustion engine vehicle exports maintain a good trend.

The main engine displacement for exported gasoline vehicles is in the 1.0L-1.5L range, highlighting the comprehensive advantage of Chinese domestic passenger vehicles.

Exports of 1.5L-2.0L vehicles recovered quickly this year, indicating demand from markets like Russia for higher-end, higher-priced Chinese SUVs.

The product mix for electric vehicles is diversifying, with improved exports of high-end EVs and strong growth for entry-level PHEVs.

Top Passenger Vehicle Export Models by Powertrain

In May 2026, the largest markets for Chinese pure electric passenger vehicles were Thailand (36,811 units), Australia (32,368 units), Brazil (28,728 units), the Philippines (26,410 units), and Belgium (14,025 units).

The largest year-on-year increases were in Thailand (28,628 units), Australia (25,115 units), Brazil (20,938 units), the Philippines (9,292 units), and Colombia (3,131 units).

Cumulatively from January to May, the top markets were Brazil (141,755 units), Belgium (109,871 units), Thailand (94,711 units), Australia (80,296 units), and the UK (73,611 units), with the biggest gains in Brazil (111,468 units), Australia (47,325 units), Thailand (44,914 units), South Korea (37,902 units), and the UK (26,416 units).

For plug-in hybrid passenger vehicles in May, the main markets were Brazil (38,062 units), Italy (11,521 units), the UK (10,861 units), Belgium (10,135 units), and Australia (10,082 units), with the largest increases in Brazil (10,495 units), Italy (8,761 units), Australia (7,766 units), Spain (5,651 units), and Germany (5,081 units).

Cumulatively, the top PHEV markets were Brazil (145,603 units), the UK (56,215 units), the UAE (44,269 units), Belgium (40,403 units), and Italy (36,594 units), with gains led by Brazil (70,855 units), the UK (31,831 units), the UAE (31,590 units), Italy (29,550 units), and Germany (24,872 units).

For conventional hybrid passenger vehicles in May, the main markets were Brazil (12,398 units), Italy (9,463 units), France (9,001 units), Spain (8,257 units), and the UK (6,065 units), with increases led by Brazil (8,439 units), Italy (7,332 units), France (6,857 units), Spain (5,621 units), and Poland (4,830 units).

Cumulatively, the top HEV markets were Brazil (35,554 units), the UK (31,909 units), Spain (30,193 units), Italy (29,373 units), and France (22,682 units), with gains led by Brazil (26,169 units), Spain (18,125 units), France (16,516 units), Italy (16,203 units), and the UK (15,498 units).

Truck and Bus Export Trends

Truck export growth has been modest in recent years, with its share in total auto exports gradually shrinking.

However, 2026 saw improvement driven by strong performance of pure electric and diesel light trucks.

The mainstay of the truck market is sub-5-ton gasoline and diesel trucks, with also strong demand for 5-14 ton and 20+ ton diesel heavy trucks.

The top markets for internal combustion engine truck exports remained stable.

In May, leading markets included Vietnam (8,154 units), Mexico (7,989 units), Algeria (6,149 units), Nigeria (4,856 units), and Ghana (4,341 units), with the largest increases in Algeria (4,586 units), Russia (2,570 units), Ghana (2,567 units), Nigeria (2,434 units), and Vietnam (1,772 units).

Cumulatively, the top markets were Vietnam (39,371 units), Mexico (36,476 units), Algeria (26,203 units), Ghana (18,737 units), and Peru (16,432 units), with gains led by Algeria (21,511 units), Vietnam (12,742 units), Ghana (10,203 units), Peru (8,621 units), and Nigeria (7,791 units).

Plug-in hybrid truck exports have been strong recently, primarily due to the incremental demand for pickup trucks with passenger vehicle attributes, offering convenience and cost advantages in off-road scenarios overseas.

In May, key markets included Australia (2,240 units), South Africa (276 units), Argentina (260 units), New Zealand (255 units), and Germany (160 units), with increases led by Argentina (260 units), Germany (160 units), Russia (153 units), Pakistan (144 units), and Ecuador (119 units).

Cumulatively, the top markets were Australia (8,902 units), Chile (1,373 units), Argentina (1,141 units), Brazil (1,002 units), and South Africa (746 units), with gains led by Argentina (1,077 units), Chile (938 units), Pakistan (726 units), Brazil (711 units), and the UAE (670 units).

Pure electric truck exports have surged recently, driven by explosive growth in demand for specialized vehicles, offering superior convenience and cost advantages in specific overseas scenarios.

Bus Export Overview

Global bus demand has declined recently, leading to a continued contraction in Chinese bus exports from 64,000 units in 2019 to 48,000 units in 2022.

With global demand recovering since 2023, Chinese bus exports reached 106,000 units for the full year 2025.

From January to May 2026, pure electric bus exports were 6,000 units, down 8%, a mediocre performance.

Diesel bus exports grew significantly from a low base, and gasoline medium/large bus exports were strong.

The main markets for Chinese internal combustion engine bus exports are dispersed, primarily in less developed countries, making the market complex and challenging for sustained, orderly export development.

In May, leading markets included Egypt (2,418 units), Peru (726 units), Vietnam (500 units), Bolivia (427 units), and Saudi Arabia (414 units), with increases led by Egypt (1,999 units), Bolivia (409 units), Saudi Arabia (191 units), Mexico (148 units), and Zimbabwe (126 units).

Cumulatively, the top markets were Egypt (6,765 units), Algeria (6,653 units), Peru (4,386 units), Saudi Arabia (2,605 units), and Vietnam (2,283 units), with gains led by Algeria (6,153 units), Egypt (4,077 units), Mexico (1,555 units), Peru (1,505 units), and Bolivia (1,207 units).

The pure electric bus export market is small with significant data volatility.

In May, key markets included Nepal (348 units), Israel (153 units), Pakistan (112 units), the Netherlands (93 units), and Portugal (81 units), with increases led by Israel (113 units), Pakistan (112 units), Portugal (79 units), New Zealand (34 units), and Malaysia (32 units).

Cumulatively, the top markets were Nepal (1,033 units), Norway (610 units), Israel (398 units), Chile (260 units), and the UK (235 units), with gains led by Norway (318 units), Portugal (211 units), Pakistan (208 units), Mexico (172 units), and Belgium (153 units).