I. Overview of overall export volume
According to data released by China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) on April 11, 2025, China’s auto exports reached 507,000 units in March, up 14.9% sequentially and 1% year-on-year.
In terms of quarterly data, 1.42 million vehicles were exported in the first quarter of 2025, up 7.3% year-on-year.
However, it is worth noting that the growth rate has slowed down significantly compared to the previous, high growth rate.
Since May 2023, China’s auto exports year-on-year growth rate has begun to narrow significantly, 2023 full-year export year-on-year growth rate of 57.8% 2024 full-year year-on-year growth of 19.3% and the first quarter of 2025 growth rate has fallen back to single digits.
二、不同动力类型汽车出口表现
①New Energy Vehicle Export Momentum is Strong
New energy vehicle exports of 158,000 units in March rose 20.1% from a year earlier by 26.8%.
In the first quarter, the export performance of new energy vehicles, very good, than the performance of fuel vehicles, but also much better.Its exports totaled 441,000 units compared with the same period last year, an increase of 43.9%.
The proportion of new energy vehicles in the total export volume has been increasing. 36.6% of the total export volume of new energy vehicles was exported in March, an increase of 5 percentage points compared with the same period last year.
Represented by BYD, in March BYD exported 66,000 units up 73.92% year-on-year in the national automobile brand exports ranked first.
This is due to the advantages of China’s new energy vehicles in technology development, cost control and product layout, such as BYD’s blade battery technology, which improves the safety of the battery, as well as the energy density, in which case, it makes its products more competitive in overseas markets.
② Conventional Fuel Vehicle Exports on a Downward Trend
Exports of 349,000 conventionally fueled vehicles in March were up 12.7 percent from a year earlier but down 7.5 percent from a year earlier.
The export of fuel vehicles in the first quarter fell 3.7% year-on-year to 978,000 units.The reasons for the decline in exports of traditional fuel vehicles are more complicated, on the one hand, the global automobile market is gradually transforming to new energy, which makes the demand for traditional fuel vehicles reduced; on the other hand, China’s traditional fuel vehicles in the overseas market encountered from Europe, the United States, Japan and South Korea and other traditional automobile powerhouse brands in the fierce competition, and its brand influence and technological maturity is not a very significant advantage.On the other hand, China’s traditional fuel vehicles are facing fierce competition from Europe, America, Japan and Korea.Fuel cars have the same opportunity
III. Exports of different brands
①Outstanding performance of independent brands
Exports of independent brands reached 340,000 units in March, up 1% year-on-year and 10% sequentially.
In addition to BYD, Jetway exported 18,000 units up 77.94 percent year-on-year.
In the first quarter of the vehicle exports of the top ten companies, Chery exports amounted to 254,000 units year-on-year growth of 0.1% accounted for 17.9% of the total export volume.
Autonomous brands in recent years, ah, through the enhancement of product quality, increase the investment in research and development, has launched a series of models that meet the needs of overseas markets, and gradually began to show their prominence in the international market.
For example, Chery has launched SUVs in several overseas markets; and with relatively high cost-effective and rich configurations, they have actually been welcomed by local consumers.
② Exports of Joint Venture Brands and Luxury Brands Cold
Exports of joint venture and luxury brands fell sharply by 45% year-on-year to just 47,000 units in March.
Joint-venture brands, competition in the domestic market continues to intensify, some brands, in terms of product updates and adapt to market changes, relatively speaking, some lagging behind, which in turn affects its performance in overseas markets.
At this time, luxury brands in overseas markets, facing fierce competition, and the higher price of its products, in some emerging markets, the acceptance, limited.
For example, some German and Japanese luxury brands produce in China and then export them, facing competitive pressure from the brands of origin, but also the challenge of more price-sensitive consumers in emerging markets.
IV. Changes in export markets
①Higher impact of fluctuations in the Russian market
In 2024, Russia became China’s top auto exporter, with China exporting 1,158,000 vehicles to Russia, which represents 18.1% of China’s total auto exports.
However, according to the China Automobile Circulation Association passenger car market information joint branch statistics, in January-February 2025 China’s total automobile exports of the top 5 countries, in turn, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Belgium and Saudi Arabia, Russia has even slipped to the third place.And in December China’s automobile export increase in the top 5 countries, there is no Russia.
Xu Haidong, Specialized Deputy Secretary General of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), has judged that in 2025, the sales of Chinese automobiles in the Russian market may drop from 1.2 million units in 2024 to about 800,000 units; and he has actually revealed some of the industry trends, so that we can have a clearer perception of the future changes in the market.
This is mainly due to the introduction of increased taxes and fees in Russia, as well as end-of-life taxes, and the unsustainable model of re-exporting through Kazakhstan for some car companies.
From the data pointed out by Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the passenger association branch, the total domestic car sales in Russia in January-February 2025 declined by a small margin, but China’s exports to Russia’s automobile volume compared to the same period last year decreased by 55,000 units declined by a large margin, compared to the export data in November-December 2024 is down 14.3million units fluctuated significantly.
② Opportunities and Challenges in Other Markets
At a time of volatility in the Russian market; but also in other markets with different dynamics.This reflects the complexity and diversity of the global economic situation.And this difference is not only in terms of market performance, but also involves the interaction of many factors.
Markets such as Mexico, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, for example, have become key growth points for China’s auto exports. the incremental volume of China’s auto exports to the UAE in January-February 2025 actually amounted to 38,703 units; and the incremental volume to Mexico, also amounted to 20,163 units.
These markets, the demand for cars, is very strong in the new energy vehicles to promote this time period, still has, considerable development potential.This brings a rare opportunity for Chinese automobile brands.
At this time, however, these markets are also facing challenges from other national car brands.Like “Japanese” and “Korean” brands in the Middle East and Latin America, still occupy a relatively large market share.Chinese brands have to always, strengthen the competitive advantage of the product, but also gradually to the after-sales service system, in this way, in order to continue to improve their share in those markets.
V. Summary: and outlook
Overall, in March 2025, China’s automobile export market, there is growth but the growth rate is slowing down.
The export of new energy vehicles has become a bright spot, and its technological advantages as well as the performance of products in terms of price/performance ratio are gradually opening up the global market.
Independent brands in the field of exports, occupies a key position, and the performance is relatively good; however, joint venture brands and luxury brands in the export, but facing greater pressure.
The ups and downs of the Russian market have added some unpredictable instability to the export affairs of Chinese automobiles.At the same time, the needs of other markets also bring opportunities for China’s automobile exports, opportunities and challenges coexist!
Article source: digitized car exports
