The automobile export information in September is worthy of our attention and review. In September, automobile exports reached 652,000 units, a month-on-month increase of 6.7% and a year-on-year increase of 21%. In 2025, the cumulative exports reached 4.95 million units, a year-on-year increase of 14.8%.
01 Passenger cars and commercial vehicles
Passenger Cars
September saw strong passenger car export figures, reaching 560,000 units, a 5% month-over-month increase and a 22.4% year-over-year growth rate. This year-over-year growth rate has remained above 20% for four consecutive months.
By 2025, cumulative exports are projected to reach 4.201 million units, a year-on-year increase of 15.6%. Based on this trend, China is on track to reach a total passenger car export target of 6 million units this year. This data truly demonstrates the current competitiveness of Chinese automotive products.
Commercial Vehicles
◎ In September, commercial vehicle exports reached 93,000 units, an 18% increase month-over-month and a 13.3% year-over-year increase. Truck exports reached 78,000 units, a 17% increase month-over-month and a 9.1% year-over-year increase. Bus exports reached 15,000 units, a 23.8% increase month-over-month and a 42.5% year-over-year increase.
◎ By 2025, cumulative exports are projected to reach 748,000 units, a 10.2% year-over-year increase. Truck exports are projected to reach 639,000 units, a 9.4% year-over-year increase. Bus exports are projected to reach 109,000 units, a 15.4% year-over-year increase.
Passenger cars still face some tariff issues globally, and export regions are currently restricted. Current export levels are quite high.
With the expansion of new energy technologies in the commercial vehicle sector, this sector is experiencing healthy growth.
02Traditional cars and new energy vehicles
If we break it down by traditional and new energy vehicles:
● In September, traditional fuel vehicle exports essentially stopped growing (fortunately, they didn’t decline), with exports reaching 430,000 units, an 11.1% month-over-month increase and a 0.5% year-over-year increase. New energy vehicle exports reached 222,000 units, a 0.9% month-over-month decrease and a 100% year-over-year increase, which is a respectable growth rate.
● From January to September, traditional fuel vehicle exports reached 3.192 million units, a 5.6% year-over-year decrease. New energy vehicle exports reached 1.758 million units, an 89.4% year-over-year increase.
03Pure electric and plug-in hybrid
New energy vehicle exports totaled 222,000 units, a 0.9% decrease from the previous month and a 100% year-on-year increase.
New energy passenger vehicle exports totaled 217,000 units, a 1.4% decrease from the previous month and a 100% year-on-year increase. New energy commercial vehicle exports totaled 5,000 units, a 23.8% increase from the previous month and a 35.2% year-on-year increase.
Pure electric vehicle exports reached 153,000 units, a 6.6% month-over-month increase and a 72.3% year-over-year increase.
What was quite surprising was the performance of plug-in hybrid vehicles: 69,000 units were exported, a 14.3% month-over-month decrease (a month-over-month decrease is somewhat surprising) and a 2.2-fold year-over-year increase.
Cumulative amount by 2025
New energy vehicle exports reached 1.758 million units, an increase of 89.4% year-on-year. New energy passenger vehicle exports reached 1.694 million units, an increase of 87.7% year-on-year; new energy commercial vehicle exports reached 64,000 units, a 1.5-fold year-on-year increase.
Pure electric vehicle exports reached 1.13 million units, a year-on-year increase of 54.6%;
Plug-in hybrid vehicle exports reached 628,000 units, a 2.2-fold year-on-year increase.
According to fourth-quarter projections, new energy vehicle exports this year are expected to reach around 2.5 million units, a high figure.
04Situation of Export Enterprises
September 2025
Chery opened up a gap with monthly exports of 141,000 vehicles, demonstrating its rapid growth.
SAIC and BYD ranked second and third, exporting 91,000 and 71,000 vehicles, respectively (BYD experienced a slight monthly slowdown), forming a “top three” alongside Chery.
Changan, Geely, and Great Wall ranked in the middle, with exports of 60,000, 56,000, and 50,000 vehicles, respectively.
BAIC, Dongfeng, JAC, and Tesla rounded out the top ten with monthly exports of 20,000 to 30,000 vehicles, respectively.
Cumulative situation in 2025
Chery led the industry with 936,000 vehicles exported, demonstrating solid overseas sales.
BYD and SAIC followed closely behind, with exports reaching 705,000 and 680,000 vehicles, respectively.
The second-tier players, Changan, Geely, and Great Wall, each exported between 300,000 and 500,000 vehicles.
