China's auto exports continued their record-breaking run in August, with new energy vehicles (NEVs) driving the surge, according to data released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) on September 10.
Total vehicle exports reached 1.01 million units in August, up 65.3% year on year and surpassing the 1-million mark for the third consecutive month. Within that, NEV exports hit 526,000 units, jumping 134.6% year on year and accounting for more than 50% of all vehicle exports for the third straight month. In the first eight months of 2026, auto exports totaled 7.153 million units (up 66.7% YoY), with NEV exports reaching 3.435 million units (up 124.3% YoY).
In the passenger NEV export race, BYD dominated with a 35.4% share in August, shipping 183,746 units abroad — more than five times Tesla China's 36,119 units. Tesla, previously the leading exporter, slipped to fourth place behind Geely and Chery. Over the first eight months, BYD exported 1,126,797 NEVs (a 33.9% share), while Tesla China exported 331,443 (10%), and the gap is widening.
BYD's management now targets over 2.5 million overseas sales in 2027, having raised its 2026 goal three times this year. The company attributes current constraints to shipping capacity rather than demand, and is expanding its dedicated carrier fleet while accelerating local assembly in Indonesia, Brazil and Hungary. Hungary-built vehicles are classified as European and bypass tariffs on Chinese imports.
Source: China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), CarNewsChina, financialsumo.
