According to Gasgoo Automotive Research Institute, China's passenger vehicle exports showed clear regional divergence from January to July 2026. Europe and Central & South America remained strong, while Southeast Asia saw a reshuffling of the competitive landscape. North America continued to present high market entry barriers, while the Middle East weakened overall, with exports from most major automakers declining year on year.Differences in regulations, consumer preferences, and competition have led to distinct regional trends, with automakers pursuing differentiated overseas strategies based on their product portfolios and expansion plans.Top 10 Chinese automakers by passenger vehicle exports to EuropeSAIC PV: 255,087 units, up 64.6% year-on-yearBYD Auto: 212,505 units, up 31.8% year-on-yearGeely Auto: 114,910 units, up 151.9% year-on-yearTesla: 89,206 units, up 44.1% year-on-yearLeapmotor: 79,603 units, up 354.7% year-on-yearSpotlight Automotive: 27,936 units, down 2.2% year-on-yeareGT: 20,338 units, up 32.0% year-on-yearChangan Auto: 15,943 units, up 281.1% year-on-yearBeijing Hyundai: 12,091 units, up 281.4% year-on-yearFrom January to July 2026, China's leading passenger vehicle exporters to Europe showed clear divergence. Chery Auto ranked first with 317,864 units, up 287.0% YoY, marking rapid expansion in the European market. SAIC Motor Passenger Vehicle and BYD ranked second and third with 255,087 and 212,505 units, respectively, forming the top tier. All three exceeded 200,000 units, but growth rates varied significantly: Chery led by a wide margin, SAIC maintained steady growth, while BYD grew at a more moderate pace, reflecting differences in product cycles and channel expansion.The second tier comprised Geely Auto, Tesla, and Leapmotor, with exports ranging from 70,000 to 120,000 units. Geely exported 114,910 units, up 151.9% YoY, while Leapmotor posted the fastest growth in the ranking, surging 354.7%, highlighting the growing presence of Chinese new energy brands in Europe. Tesla exported 89,206 units from its Shanghai plant, up 44.1%, maintaining a stable export supply.Top 10 Chinese automakers by passenger vehicle exports to Southeast AsiaGeely Auto: 117,351 units, up 156.6% year-on-yearBYD Auto: 88,978 units, up 13.3% year-on-yearChery Auto: 41,965 units, down 10.3% year-on-yearZhenyi Auto: 32,037 unitsTesla: 17,573 units, up 83.6% year-on-yearGreat Wall Motor: 17,347 units, up 64.3% year-on-yearJiangling Motor: 15,381 units, up 74.7% year-on-yearChangan Auto: 14,226 units, down 32.2% year-on-yearXPENG: 14,010 units, up 169.9% year-on-yearLeapmotor: 12,502 units, up 265.4% year-on-yearSoutheast Asia, a traditional core market for Chinese passenger vehicle exports, saw a "two leaders, divergent growth" pattern among major automakers from January to July 2026. Geely Auto ranked first with 117,351 units, up 156.6% YoY, further strengthening its position in the region. BYD followed with 88,978 units, up just 13.3%, as growth slowed from a high base. The two leaders thus showed a clear gap in growth momentum.The rest of the ranking was more mixed. Chery Auto ranked third with 41,965 units, down 10.3%, while Changan Auto exports fell 32.2% YoY. However, considering that Zhenyi Auto primarily handles contract manufacturing and exports for Chery's Jaecoo brand, its 32,037 units exported to Southeast Asia during the period should also be taken into account. Combining Zhenyi and Chery, Chery's overall export volume in Southeast Asia did not decline significantly, highlighting the group's continued competitiveness in the region.Top 10 Chinese automakers by passenger vehicle exports to North AmericaSAIC‑GM‑Wuling: 76,950 units, up 30.0% year-on-yearSAIC‑GM: 30,853 units, up 70.7% year-on-yearChangan‑Ford: 25,610 units, up 44.9% year-on-yearGeely Auto: 25,515 units, up 73.2% year-on-yearChery Auto: 18,773 units, down 7.0% year-on-yearSAIC PV: 17,637 units, up 17.7% year-on-yearTesla: 15,061 units, up 232.2% year-on-yearJiangsu Yueda Kia: 13,698 units, down 24.2% year-on-yearJiangling Motor: 10,006 units, up 14.3% year-on-yearGAC Trumpchi: 9,582 units, down 8.1% year-on-yearFrom January to July 2026, China's passenger vehicle exports to North America remained relatively small compared with Europe and Southeast Asia. SAIC-GM-Wuling led by a wide margin with 76,950 units, up 30.0% YoY, making it the dominant exporter to the region. SAIC-GM and Changan-Ford ranked second and third with 30,853 and 25,610 units, respectively, both posting steady growth. Joint venture automakers, leveraging their domestic manufacturing capabilities, remained important suppliers to the North American market.Geely Auto ranked fourth with 25,515 units, up 73.2% YoY, making it the standout Chinese automaker in the ranking and marking rapid expansion in North America. Exports from the fifth to seventh-ranked automakers ranged from 15,000 to 19,000 units, with mixed performance: Chery Auto declined 7.0%, SAIC PV grew a moderate 17.7%, while Tesla surged 232.2%.Top 10 Chinese automakers by passenger vehicle exports to Central and South AmericaBYD Auto: 239,806 units, up 146.7% year-on-yearChery Auto: 132,948 units, up 85.6% year-on-yearGeely Auto: 76,635 units, up 410.7% year-on-yearGreat Wall Motor: 63,895 units, up 69.0% year-on-yearJiangsu Yueda Kia: 43,270 units, up 57.0% year-on-yearChangan Auto: 37,154 units, up 244.8% year-on-yearJiangling Motor: 27,742 units, up 37.5% year-on-yearSAIC‑GM‑Wuling: 26,801 units, up 85.1% year-on-yearSAIC PV: 24,219 units, up 142.4% year-on-yearTesla: 19,038 units, up 1716.6% year-on-yearCentral & South America emerged as a high-growth market for China's passenger vehicle exports from January to July 2026. All of the top 10 exporters posted YoY growth, with no declines, highlighting strong expansion and sustained demand. BYD led the region with 239,806 units, up 146.7%, establishing a clear lead. Chery ranked second with 132,948 units, up 85.6%. The two formed the top tier, with exports exceeding 100,000 units each.Geely ranked third with 76,635 units, surging 410.7% YoY and recording the fastest growth among traditional Chinese automakers. Great Wall Motor exported 63,895 units, up 69.0%, maintaining steady expansion. Jiangsu Yueda Kia ranked fifth with 43,270 units, up 57.0%, showing that joint venture brands also maintain a presence in the Central & South American market.Top 10 Chinese automakers by passenger vehicle exports to Middle EastChery Auto: 101,751 units, down 33.2% year-on-yearBYD Auto: 57,446 units, down 6.2% year-on-yearSAIC PV: 34,677 units, down 36.5% year-on-yearGeely Auto: 33,935 units, down 26.7% year-on-yearGreat Wall Motor: 31,315 units, down 11.0% year-on-yearJiangsu Yueda Kia: 30,837 units, down 38.3% year-on-yearChangan Auto: 27,842 units, down 43.8% year-on-yearBeijing Hyundai: 20,222 units, down 28.1% year-on-yearKarry Auto: 17,161 units, down 20.5% year-on-yearSoutheast Auto: 16,687 units, down 44.5% year-on-yearFrom January to July 2026, Chinese automakers' exports to the Middle East showed clear divergence. Chery Auto remained the largest exporter with 101,751 units, despite a 33.2% YoY decline. BYD ranked second with 57,446 units. While still trailing Chery by a wide margin, its exports fell only 6.2%, indicating greater market resilience.In the second tier, SAIC PV, Geely Auto, and Great Wall Motor exported 34,677, 33,935, and 31,315 units, respectively, with relatively similar volumes. Great Wall Motor stood out with 11.0% YoY growth, making it one of the better-performing major traditional automakers in the TOP 10. By contrast, exports from SAIC PV and Geely Auto declined 36.5% and 26.7%, respectively, highlighting significant differences in market performance.
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