The Zhitong Finance App learned that Cui Dongshu published an article saying that since 2021, the resilient advantages of China's automobile industry chain have been fully reflected, and the Chinese automobile export market has shown strong growth in the past two years. Chinese autonomous car companies have strong sales characteristics in some overseas regions. In 2025, China's autonomous car companies sold 3.54 million units locally in some regions where statistics can be continued, up 28% year on year; in June 2026, sales of their own brands in the Chinese overseas market were 490,000 units, up 69% year on year; in January-June, sales of independent brands in China's overseas market were 2.46 million units, up 62% year on year. Retail performance in some of China's independent overseas marketable markets is very good.
China's overall autonomous vehicle sales share in overseas markets from January to June 2026 was 7.3%, up 2.3 percentage points from the previous year. The sales volume of autonomous vehicles varies greatly around the world, with 20% in the southern hemisphere, 11% in Europe, and around 8% in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The share of mainstream regions has reached about 10%, but exports to the US, Japan, and South Korea are still very cautious.
From January to June 2026, the overseas sales share of autonomous new energy passenger vehicles was 24%, up 10 percentage points from the same period in 2025. The main contributor to growth is the EU market.
I. Overseas performance of Chinese autonomous car companies
1. Monthly sales trends of Chinese autonomous car companies in some overseas regions
China's automobile exports have continued to strengthen in recent years, showing the characteristic of peaking and falling back during the year as a roller coaster in summer. Judging from the overseas export and retail data of Chinese automobiles, the monthly trend is relatively stable. Recently, it has shown a good growth trend. In particular, the rate of increase was rapid starting in 2025, driving high year-on-year growth in early 2026. Sales in June reached a record high, higher than March sales.
2. Sales characteristics of Chinese autonomous car companies in some overseas regions
Chinese autonomous car companies have strong sales characteristics in some overseas regions. In 2025, China's autonomous car companies sold 3.54 million units locally in some regions where statistics can be continued, up 28% year on year; in June 2026, sales of their own brands in the Chinese overseas market were 490,000 units, up 69% year on year; in January-June, sales of independent brands in China's overseas market were 2.46 million units, up 62% year on year. Retail performance in some of China's independent overseas marketable markets is very good.
3. Overseas data on Chinese vehicles exported has increased dramatically
China's automobile exports have performed extremely well; judging from China's customs data, the growth has been extremely rapid. However, judging from overseas local market statistics, China's automobile exports are also showing a stronger and better growth situation. China's overseas markets are fluctuating. In 2026, retail sales in overseas markets are strong in Japan, South Korea, Africa, and the European Union, while regions such as Russia, Central Asia, the Middle East, and India have poor export trends.
The main reason for the strong overseas growth rate is that in the past, many of our automobile exports were in underdeveloped countries such as Africa, or in markets that are difficult to count, so overseas data is not fully reflected, but now our exports show a more prominent performance in some high-end overseas markets, so we can generally see that the growth rate of Chinese automobile exports in overseas data showed a strong growth trend in 2023-2025. In particular, since 2022, China's automobile exports have shown a round of explosive growth, showing 2 consecutive years of strong growth in the European market. 2024 was suppressed and weakened, so the market in the EU is stronger in 2025-2026.
4. The share of Chinese cars exported overseas has increased dramatically
China's overall autonomous vehicle sales share in overseas markets from January to June 2026 was 7.3%, up 2.3 percentage points from the previous year. The sales volume of autonomous vehicles varies greatly around the world, with 20% in the southern hemisphere, 11% in Europe, and around 8% in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The share of mainstream regions has reached about 10%, but exports to the US, Japan, and South Korea are still very cautious.
From January to June 2026, the overseas sales share of autonomous new energy passenger vehicles was 24%, up 10 percentage points from the same period in 2025. Due to the good performance of autonomous new energy exports, and the severe contraction of the US NEV market, the sales share of autonomous NEV passenger vehicles in overseas markets has increased significantly. Currently, the share of new energy in South America exceeds 79%, and the share of new energy in Southeast Asia has reached 45%.
5. Overseas data on export vehicles of independent brands has increased dramatically
Currently, China's independent overseas sales share from January to June 2026 is mainly Russia, with regions such as Oceania and Africa exceeding 20%, Central and South America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia sharing around 15%, the European Union 8%, and Japan, South Korea, and the US almost zero. Russia is the first in terms of autonomy; it is weaker than the Japanese system in Oceania, Africa, and Southeast Asia, and is in second place. In the European Union, the Middle East, and Latin America, it is lower than the EU's own car companies and Japanese companies, and is in third place.
Some countries, such as India, also have their own automobile industry, and the multipolar nature of the world's automobiles has not changed.
6. The share of Chinese car companies' overseas exports has increased dramatically
In 2026, the share of Chinese car companies such as Chery, Geely, BYD, SAIC Motor, and Great Wall increased markedly in Oceania and Southeast Asia. Japan's Toyota, Honda, Suzuki, etc. are under increasing pressure in Oceania, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
II. Overseas tracking by Chinese autonomous car companies
1. Tracking overseas sales data of Chinese car companies
The overseas export data of Chinese car companies has continued to strengthen in recent years. In particular, we see that the overseas performance of major car companies is relatively outstanding. Looking at it now, the main car companies such as Chery (09973), BYD (01211), SAIC (600104.SH), Great Wall Motor (02333), and Geely (00175) are showing a strong trend. Here, in particular, BYD's exports have shown extremely strong growth recently.
2. Overseas status of China's own brand new energy
Judging from the brand's export performance, the main highlights of China's automobile exports of new energy are BYD, Chery, SAIC MG, Geely, Zero Run, etc. In particular, the recent overseas sales performance of Chery New Energy is extremely impressive, and SAIC Motor's transformation performance after being sanctioned by the European Union is outstanding.
3. Performance of Chinese car companies in overseas markets
The differences and characteristics of independent brands in mainstream overseas markets are obvious, and each manufacturer has its own competitive market. Chery's scale continues to be strong. BYD is developing faster across the board. It quickly entered some developed markets and formed a certain amount scale, reflecting its strong independent overseas competitiveness.
However, both Chery and SAIC have strong advantages in overseas markets. Chery has performed well in markets such as Russia, Brazil, and South Africa. Recently, the UK and Italy have surpassed SAIC's sales volume. SAIC has performed excellently in markets such as the UK, Italy, and Australia. Geely also has strong performance in overseas markets such as Russia and Saudi Arabia, but this is partly a reflection of overseas brands. Changan performed well in markets such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Chile. Great Wall Motors is also performing extremely well in the Russian and South African markets, as well as in some other markets.
New forces have also achieved certain results in expanding overseas markets. Both Xiaopeng and Zero Run have a certain amount of overseas sales, and Israel is a huge market for China's new independent forces.
4. Tracking Chinese NEV companies in overseas markets
Data from some overseas markets confirm China Customs export data. China's NEV export performance is strong, and its independent performance is very good. Recently, it can be seen that the performance of Chinese car companies in major markets such as Thailand, Brazil, Indonesia, Israel, the United Kingdom, Germany, and other major markets is also on a huge scale. Car companies such as SAIC, Geely, and BYD in the Nordic market have performed relatively well.
The new forces have also performed relatively well in the Dutch and Norwegian markets. Several new forces have mainly landed in Europe in Norway, and have a certain scale, which shows that Chinese car companies have made good breakthroughs in overseas markets.