Business · Trade · 8 hrs ago
China passenger car exports rose 64% in September as local sales fell
China exported about 919,000 passenger cars in September, 64% more than in the same month last year.
The figures came from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
Overseas demand for plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles helped lift exports.
At home, passenger car sales fell 27% to more than 1.6 million as consumer confidence weakened and government subsidies were reduced.
Automakers are increasingly targeting markets in Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia and Africa to make up for sluggish domestic sales.
Their expansion faces possible tariffs and other restrictions, while the European Union has already imposed higher tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.
Some Chinese companies are building factories abroad to reduce their exposure to tariffs, and analysts expect more production to take place locally in overseas markets.
China exported around 919,000 passenger vehicles in September, up 64% from the same month in 2025.
Domestic passenger car sales fell 27% year on year in September to more than 1.6 million units.
Chinese automakers are increasingly relying on overseas markets as domestic demand weakens.
Overseas demand for plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles helped lift exports.
Tariffs and other protectionist measures are risks to the automakers’ expansion abroad.
- Who
- Chinese automakers. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers reported the figures.
- What
- Passenger car exports rose 64% year on year in September, while domestic sales fell 27%.
- When
- September 2026.
- Where
- China, with exports going to overseas markets.
- Why
- Overseas demand, including for plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles, lifted exports as domestic sales weakened.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The industry is increasingly relying on overseas markets for sales and profit growth
You can’t expect BYD or the other OEMs (manufacturers) to export too many cars without facing tariffs or pushbacks from the foreign governments
Geopolitics is the biggest challenge in its overseas expansion
More and more volume will be made locally
China exported around 919,000 passenger vehicles, while domestic passenger car sales fell to more than 1.6 million units.
U.S. President Donald Trump met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Washington, but the meeting did not result in a deal on Chinese EV exports to the U.S.
EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič said China and the EU had reached an interim deal that could cut Chinese hybrid vehicle exports by around half.
- Passenger car exports
- Around 919,000 in September
- Export growth
- 64% year on year
- Domestic passenger car sales
- More than 1.6 million units in September
- Domestic sales decline
- 27% year on year
- Export demand
- Plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles
Sources
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