BEIJING, Aug. 4, 2026 - Yiche, in partnership with CATARC Information Technology Co., Ltd., released the "China Auto Overseas Expansion H1 2026 Review Report," revealing that China exported 5.31 million vehicles in the first half of 2026, a year-on-year increase of 53%, marking five consecutive years of growth. The full-year target of surpassing 10 million units is now considered highly achievable.
The report highlights that new energy vehicles are the core growth engine, with the NEV penetration rate in exports rising 14.2 percentage points since 2022. Meanwhile, traditional fuel vehicles maintain their scale advantage, and both powertrain types together drive China's automotive globalization. Russia remained the top export destination with 433,700 units in H1, while Brazil and Belgium led NEV exports with 298,400 and 207,300 units respectively.
The report also noted a strategic shift from "selling cars overseas" to "establishing roots overseas." Chinese automakers are accelerating the deployment of production bases, R&D centers, sales networks, and supply chain systems in key markets. The top 10 exporters were led by SAIC, BYD, Geely, FAW, Chery, Changan, Dongfeng, BAIC, Great Wall, and JAC.
Source: Yiche, CATARC, CNR, 2026
