A Brief Analysis of Automobile Exports in April 2025
In April 2025, China’s automobile export market, in the global economy and the trend of industry change, showing a different development characteristics.The export data at this stage not only reflects the changes in the competitiveness of the domestic automobile industry, but also reflects the transformation of the demand structure of the global automobile market.
I. Total exports and growth trends
In April, China’s automobile exports reached 517,000 units, up 2% compared with the previous month, and up 2.6% compared with the same period last year, showing a relatively stable monthly development trend.From the beginning of the year to the end of April, the cumulative export volume of 1.937 million units compared to the same period last year, an increase of 6%, this data indicates that China’s auto exports in 2025 will continue to rise.Although the overall growth rate does not appear to be rapid, the internal structure has changed significantly.
Second, new energy and traditional fuel vehicle export differentiation
In the export structure, new energy vehicles, and the trend of traditional fuel vehicles, showing a clear differentiation of the situation. 200,000 new energy vehicles exported in April, its ring achieved 27% growth and year-on-year growth is as high as 76%, 1 to April, the cumulative exports of 642,000 vehicles increased by 52.6% year-on-year.
New energy vehicles, in terms of exports, the proportion continues to climb upward, in April, its share reached 38.7%.
In contrast, the export volume of traditional fuel vehicles was 317,000 units accounted for a decline to 61.3% 14 months cumulative exports of 1.295 million units fell 7.9% year-on-year in April fell 18.7% year-on-year.
It shows that new energy vehicles are rapidly replacing traditional fuel vehicles as the core driving force for export growth. Behind this is reflected in the general trend of the global automobile market’s transition to new energy sources, and China’s new energy vehicles’ advantages in terms of technology, cost, and product strength have increasingly come to the fore.
①Passenger car exports
✔ Overall performance:
Passenger car exports of 431,000 units in April were up 5% sequentially and 0.4% year-on-year; cumulative exports of 1.609 million units in 14 months were up 4.6% year-on-year.Although the overall growth is relatively flat, but the new energy passenger cars are the growth highlights.✔ Overall performance:
Passenger car exports of 431,000 units in April were up 5% sequentially and 0.4% year-on-year; cumulative exports of 1.609 million units in 14 months were up 4.6% year-on-year.Although the overall growth is relatively flat, but the new energy passenger cars are the growth highlights.
✔ New energy passenger cars: exports of 190,000 units in April, (easily and happily) grew from a year earlier to 28.2% year-on-year growth, as high as 70.6%; 14-month cumulative exports of 609,000 units of year-on-year growth of a substantial 48%, accounting for 37.9% of the total exports of passenger cars.The acceptance of new-energy passenger cars in overseas markets has been increasing, (succinctly) reshaping the value image of Chinese automobiles overseas, although the performance of traditional fuel-powered passenger cars has been relatively tepid, with the elasticity of demand gradually weakening, and they are facing fierce price competition and profit compression.
②Commercial Vehicle Exports
✔ Overall performance: April commercial vehicle exports were 86,000 units down 10.9% from a year earlier but up 15.3% year-on-year; the cumulative total reached 327,000 units in 14 months, up 13.7% year-on-year.
✔ Trucks as well as buses: both showed different degrees of growth.Among them, the export of trucks reached
75,000 units increased by 15.7% year-on-year; the export of buses was 11,000 units increased by 12.4% year-on-year.✔ Trucks as well as buses: both showed different degrees of growth.Among them, the export of trucks reached
75,000 units increased by 15.7% year-on-year; the export of buses was 11,000 units increased by 12.4% year-on-year.
✔ Overall performance: the export volume of commercial vehicles in April was 86,000 units decreased by 10.9% sequentially but increased by 15.3% year-on-year; the cumulative volume reached 327,000 units in 14 months increased by 13.7% year-on-year.✔ Trucks as well as buses: both showed varying degrees of growth.Among them, the export of trucks amounted to 75,000 units increased by 15.7% year-on-year; the export of buses was 11,000 units increased by 12.4% year-on-year.
Cumulatively, trucks and buses exported 282,000 units and 45,000 units respectively, up 14.4% and 9.7% year-on-year.
✔ New Energy Commercial Vehicles: Commercial vehicle export performance is relatively solid, thanks to the global infrastructure, logistics, and public transportation demand support.Although not listed separately, (comma new energy commercial vehicles in April and January-April specific data, (comma however, in the overall new energy vehicle exports strong growth in the context of new energy commercial vehicle exports should have a certain contribution, and in the future, with the new energy technology in the field of commercial vehicles in the deepening of the promotion and application of the potential for export growth is more considerable.
III.Performance ofmajor exportbrands
In 2025, during the first four months, the major car companies, with their export figures, showed a divergent trend.
Chery to 341,000 vehicles ranked first in the export list, exports of 88,000 units in April to show its overseas markets, the results of in-depth cultivation, as well as the steady development trend; BYD cumulative exports of 292,000 units in April exports of 79,000 units in the new energy models to promote the maintenance of high growth; SAIC to 271,000 units to maintain stability, exports of 77,000 units in April to reflect its more mature global layoutThe three constitute the first echelon.
Changan, Geely, and Great Wall exported 202,000 139,000 123,000 units in the 1-4 month period.Changan in April, there was a certain degree of pullback; however, overall, it still showed strong resilience.
Tesla China, which exported 68,000 units this was impacted by the product cycle as well as the pace of the European market, and compared to the same period last year, the performance was weaker.
In terms of specific models, BYD Song PLUS performed very well, relying on sales of 21,800 units, an increase of 281% compared to the same period last year, ranking relatively high among export models, and successfully turning into a “pop-up model at sea”.At the same time, the performance of MG ZS has been very stable, with 16,200 units, and a 65% year-on-year growth rate, providing solid support for SAIC’s exports.In addition, Model Y had a great growth of 149%, which well relieved the pressure brought by the decline of Model 3 exports, and this change also reflects Tesla’s layout adjustment in export models.
April 2025, China’s auto exports probably data show that China’s auto industry is located in an important period of transformation and upgrading.The leadership of new energy vehicles in exports is becoming more and more solid.In the future, along with technological innovation, the development of overseas markets and the optimization of the industrial ecology, China’s auto exports are expected to achieve even better results in the global arena, and reach the transition from a large automobile country to a strong automobile country.
Article source: digitized car exports
