On 14 April, the State Council Information Office held a press conference, the General Administration of Customs spokesman, Director of the Department of Statistics and Analysis, Lv Daliang, introduced that China's new energy products continue to play an important role in the global green transition, in the first quarter of 2025, the export of electric vehicles increased by 8.2%. According to the latest statistics of China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), China's new energy vehicle exports increased significantly in March, with year-on-year growth of more than 20%.

Industry experts and car companies said that the overseas auto market is far from saturated, many places contain rich market potential, China's new energy vehicles with technology research and development and other advantages, is expected to achieve sustained growth in exports in the future.

New Energy Vehicle Exports Grow Significantly

‘The export of complete vehicles has maintained steady growth, of which the growth of new energy vehicle exports is particularly significant.’ The person in charge of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) told reporters that in March, China's auto exports were 507,000 units, up 14.9 per cent sequentially and 1 per cent year-on-year.In March, China's new-energy vehicle exports were 158,000 units, up 20.1 per cent sequentially and 26.8 per cent year-on-year.

According to the statistics of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), in March, seven of the top ten Chinese companies in vehicle exports achieved positive growth in exports. Among them, Chery's exports reached 86,000 units, up 2.8 per cent year-on-year, accounting for 17.1 per cent of total exports. Compared with the same period of the previous year, BYD's export growth rate was the most significant, with exports reaching 73,000 units, up 88.4 per cent year-on-year. In the first quarter, the vehicle exports of the top ten companies, Chery exports amounted to 254,000 units, an increase of 0.1 per cent year-on-year, accounting for 17.9 per cent of total exports. BYD's export volume reached 214,000 units, an increase of more than 120% year-on-year.

The rapid growth of China's new energy vehicle export sales has demonstrated its strong international competitiveness. Geely Automobile Group CEO Kam Jia read to reporters that Chinese automotive products in the global competition is very advantageous, especially new energy vehicles, its core technology strength has surpassed all joint venture brands. At the same time, China's new energy vehicle enterprises are also accelerating the promotion of globalisation layout, focusing on the development of global products. ‘Take Geely Galaxy brand as an example, the new energy models are basically developed and deployed synchronously according to global standards.’ Kam Ka Read said.

‘China's new energy vehicles, whether it is technology, products or industrial chain, leading the world for about 3 to 5 years, should grasp this window period, adhere to the opening up of innovation, to a higher level of green technology and products to promote a higher level of opening up to the outside world, and to go out to the sea in the complementarity of advantages and open cooperation.’ BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu recently said at the China Electric Vehicle 100 Forum (2025) high-level forum.

Industry experts told reporters that the rise of China's new energy vehicles no longer relies on low price competition, but on technology and quality to win the respect of overseas consumers. As a typical example of export growth, BYD's new-energy vehicles are generally sold at higher prices in overseas markets such as Europe than at home, but still offer a high price-performance ratio. In its review of the BYD ATTO 3, the German media DW (Deutsche Welle) appreciated its large centre-control rotating screen and unique interior design, which are rarely seen in other models. Relying on new technology and product power, BYD Seal's starting price in the European market is already higher than that of the BMW 3 Series.

New Energy Vehicle Overseas Share Enhancement Space

Looking into the future, the industry generally believes that China's new energy vehicle exports still have a broad space for development. Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the Association, said that China's global share of automobiles accounted for about 35 per cent, of which, less than 28 per cent of the independent brand, which is a huge latecomer's advantage relative to other manufacturing products.

‘China's car exports to the United States accounted for a tiny proportion, especially the independent brand basically did not sell in the United States.’ Cui Dongshu introduced to the reporter, including new energy vehicles, Chinese cars exported to the United States in 2024 only 116,000 units, in the overall number of Chinese car exports accounted for only 1.81%.

From the preliminary statistics of global auto sales from January to February 2025, China's own brand car sales in North America are still low, the main sales distribution in Mexico. In addition, China's own brand in Southeast Asia, the southern hemisphere and other market share is not high, the European market excluding Russia's sales share is also at a relatively low level. ‘There is still a lot of room for China's own-brand cars to improve their share in many places overseas.’ Cui Dongshu said.

Chinese new energy vehicle companies are strengthening cooperation and exchange related to going overseas. Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez visited China on 10-11 April. Sanchez met with Zhu Jiangming, chairman of Zero Run Automobile, a representative enterprise of China's new energy automobile field, and the two sides carried out in-depth communication and exchange. Sanchez recognised the ability and potential of Zero Run Auto, and hoped that the two sides could develop further cooperation. Up to now, Zero Run Auto has established nearly 500 sales outlets in 14 countries in Europe, all of which have sales and after-sales service functions. Zero Run Auto is accelerating the layout of the European core market.

The person in charge of Zero Run Automobile told reporters that Spain, as the second largest auto producer in Europe, has an important position in the global auto industry and has become one of the home bases for Chinese new energy automobile enterprises to enter Europe. Continuous co-operation in the field of new energy has become one of the key discussions between the two sides, which is undoubtedly good news for China's new energy vehicles and supporting enterprises to speed up the pace of overseas.

China's new energy vehicle enterprises are full of confidence in future exports. As the first new car-making force to complete the delivery of 10,000 vehicles in Europe, He Xiaopeng, chairman of Xiaopeng Auto, said that Xiaopeng Auto's goal is to achieve coverage of 60 countries and regions in 2025, build more than 300 overseas service outlets, rank among the top three Chinese auto brands in terms of export volume in 2027, and realise that half of its sales volume will come from overseas in 2033. ‘I hope that when overseas car owners come into contact with Chinese new energy vehicles for the first time, the deep impression they are left with is “intelligent and technologically advanced”, rather than a car that is not fun to drive.’ He said.

‘Many countries don't have the infrastructure and construction system that China has, and many places have narrow streets where consumers prefer smaller cars.’ Cui Dongshu said that China's new energy automobile industry should achieve stronger international development, deepen cooperation efforts with more national markets, develop new energy vehicle categories that are in demand locally, and especially encourage the popularity of small new energy electric vehicles and other vehicles in the local market, as well as achieve upgrades such as plug-in hybridisation of fuel vehicles in overseas markets in response to the actual needs of consumers, and use energy-saving, low-carbon, and intelligent Chinese manufacturing to benefit the local people. Source: Shanghai Securities News

Source: Shanghai Securities News