Chongqing - China’s exports of new energy vehicles (NEVs) have surged dramatically during 2025 Q1-Q3. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) recently reported a year-on-year increase of 89.4% in China’s NEV exports, reaching a total of 1.758 million units.
Among the many Chinese NEV makers, BYD’s performance stands out. During 2025 Q1-Q3, BYD’s exports surged by 130%, totaling 705,000 units, accounting for nearly 40% of China’s total NEV exports. Moreover, when including both NEVs and gasoline-powered vehicles, BYD's overall export ranking rose to second place, up four spots from sixth place in the same period of 2024.
The company’s NEVs are now present in 116 countries and regions, and its global expansion model serves as a model for other Chinese NEV makers. Unlike traditional commodity trade, BYD is expanding its global market through localized production across the entire industrial chain.
For example, BYD’s factory in Brazil, an important production base outside Asia, recently rolled out its 14-millionth NEV. The factory is expected to employ over 1,800 people by the end of October, and once fully operational, it will create more than 20,000 direct and indirect jobs.
China's domestic auto market is intensifying, with price wars eroding profit margins despite rising sales. Industry observers note that exports serve as strategic diversification, where higher overseas returns help offset domestic profitability challenges.
Chinese automakers are accelerating global production localization to navigate growing trade barriers. Beyond BYD's Brazilian facility, Great Wall Motors began manufacturing at a repurposed Mercedes-Benz plant in Brazil this August, while Changan Automobile launched Thailand's Rayong facility in May - strategic moves strengthening their international footprint.
As China’s NEV exports grow rapidly, the administration is also tightening regulations in the sector. In late September, the Ministry of Commerce and other departments announced that, starting January 2026, the government will implement a licensing system for exporting pure electric passenger vehicles.
This regulation mandates that exporters of pure electric passenger vehicles must apply for a license, without which exports will be prohibited. The system has been applied to gasoline vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), and extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs).
The new rules stipulate that manufacturing enterprises must have adequate after-sales service capabilities corresponding to export volumes, and companies without overseas service networks will be prohibited from authorizing or handling exports independently.
In addition, for the first three quarters of 2025, China’s total vehicle exports increased by 14.8% year-on-year, reaching 4.95 million units. Among all automakers, Chery was the first to lead the way with 936,000 units exported, a 12.9% increase, accounting for 18.9% of total exports.
Domestically, China’s NEV market continued its strong momentum, with sales reaching 9.47 million units in the first three quarters of 2025, a 28.1 percent increase year on year, accounting for 48.8 percent of the country’s total automotive market.
State-owned enterprises hold prominent positions in the top five ranks of NEV sales (including both domestic and export sales). Changan Automobile stands out, having sold 724,249 units. Its NEV brands, such as Deepal and Avatr, have established several production lines in Chongqing’s Liangjiang New Area, which is a key base for the company.