The Zhitong Finance App learned that Cui Dongshu, Secretary General of the Passenger Transport Association, published an article stating that in January-June 2026, automobile exports were 5.31 million units, a sharp increase of 53% over the same period last year. Among them, exports in June amounted to 1.069 million units, a year-on-year growth rate of 73%, and a slight increase of 8% month-on-month, with outstanding explosive growth.
From January to June 2026, total automobile exports reached US$91.8 billion, a sharp increase of 54% over the previous year, and the growth rate returned to a high level. Exports in June were US$18.23 billion, up 70% year on year, with a positive month-on-month increase of 9%, breaking the general month-on-month decline in June 2022.
Total parts exports from January to June 2026 were $51.3 billion, up 7% year on year, and the growth rate rebounded slightly from the first half of 2025. Exports in June were 9.78 billion US dollars in a single month, up 19% year on year and up 12% month on month, changing the trend of weakening from month to month in June 2023-2025.
Auto parts exports grew steadily at the same time this year, focusing on serving mature markets in Europe and the US. Relying on a perfect supply chain system, they provided stable support for global car companies, forming a cross-complementary pattern where “parts are deeply cultivated in Europe and America, and vehicles spread globally”. The synergy effect of the industrial chain is prominent, and jointly supports the continuous improvement of the global competitiveness of the Chinese automobile industry.
1. China's automobile exports exploded
Automobile exports continued to rise from January to June 2026. The monthly value rose from 800,000 units in January to 1.07 million units in June. There was only a slight correction in February, and the overall growth momentum was strong.
Compared with the same period in previous years, the overall export volume in each month of 2026 greatly surpassed the same period from 2022 to 2025. The monthly growth rate exceeded 37%. The year-on-year growth rate in June reached 72%. The cumulative export rate from January to June was 5.32 million units, an increase of 53% over the previous year.
Demand from overseas markets continued to be released, and the competitiveness of domestic cars going overseas increased steadily. The export scale and growth rate in the first half of the year all reached new highs in the same period of the previous year.
In 2026, China's automobile exports will experience explosive growth. Automobile exports from January to June 2026 were 5.31 million units, a significant increase of 53% over the same period last year. Among them, exports in June amounted to 1.069 million units, a year-on-year growth rate of 73%, and a slight increase of 8% month-on-month, with outstanding explosive growth.
Reviewing the trend from 2019 to 2025:2021 ushered in an outbreak of overseas travel, and subsequent growth slowed year by year; after 2023, there was often a month-on-month decline, while positive month-on-month growth was achieved in June 2026, and overseas demand resilience increased significantly.
2. The average price of Chinese automobile exports continues to rise
Automobile exports continued to rise strongly in January-June 2026. The monthly amount rose from US$14.2 billion in January to US$18.2 billion in June. There was only a slight decline in February, with monthly values leading the same period from 2022 to 2025.
Compared to previous years, 2022 had the lowest export base and fluctuated moderately throughout the year; there was a steady increase in 2023-2025, but the monthly peak was below the level of the first half of 2026.
The growth rate of export value is significantly higher than the growth rate of export volume, reflecting the continued rise in the average price of bicycle exports, the increase in the share of new energy and high-end models, and the shift from large-scale expansion of automobile exports to an increase in value.
From January to June 2026, total automobile exports reached US$91.8 billion, a sharp increase of 54% over the previous year, and the growth rate returned to a high level. Exports in June were US$18.23 billion, up 70% year on year, with a positive month-on-month increase of 9%, breaking the general month-on-month decline in June 2022.
Over the years, the export growth rate slowed down year by year after rising in 2023. The growth rate in the first half of 2025 was only 8%; the growth rate rebounded sharply in 2026, the export value growth rate (54%) was higher than the export volume growth rate (53%), the average price of bicycles continued to rise, and high-end and new energy products led to a significant rise in export value.
3. Auto parts export trends
The trend in parts exports was strong in 2026, rising to US$9.1 billion in January and US$9.8 billion in June. There was only a slight correction in March. The monthly values for January-June were higher overall than in the same period from 2022 to 2025.
The rule in previous years was that exports were low for the whole year in February, to 7.8 billion US dollars in February 2026, which is significantly higher than the bottom of the same period in previous years. The monthly scale for the period from 2022 to 2025 remained in the $50-8.6 billion range all year round, breaking through the upper limit of the range in 2026.
Vehicle exports are driving an increase in external demand for supporting parts, and overseas demand for new energy components is increasing, supporting the continued rise in parts exports.
Total parts exports from January to June 2026 were $51.3 billion, up 7% year on year, and the growth rate rebounded slightly from the first half of 2025. Exports in June were 9.78 billion US dollars in a single month, up 19% year on year and up 12% month on month, changing the trend of weakening from month to month in June 2023-2025.
The growth rate of parts exports continued to be low from 2022 to 2025. There was zero year-on-year growth in June 2025, and the boom was weak. In 2026, along with the large volume of vehicle exports, external demand for supporting parts picked up at the same time. Production and marketing support orders were released centrally in June, and the monthly export scale reached a new high in the same period in recent years.
As an important support for vehicle exports, the steady growth in parts exports has built a solid supply chain foundation for the global layout of China's automobile industry, and also provided a continuous supporting guarantee for subsequent vehicle exports.