Taicang Port, the largest auto export hub in the Yangtze River basin, exported 1.08 million vehicles in the first nine months of the year, topping one million units for the first time in history and rising more than 80% year on year. Shipments now cover 168 countries and regions.
In September alone the port exported roughly 160,000 vehicles, a record for a single month, with NEV exports surging 1.1 times year on year. Customs data compiled by CAAM shows total auto product imports and exports reached 30.6 billion US dollars in August, up 18.6% year on year.
At the same time, the European Union's countervailing duty on China-made pure electric vehicles officially takes effect on October 30 and will run for five years. Combined with the 10% base tariff, the effective rate reaches as high as 45.3% for SAIC, with BYD at 17%, Geely at 18.8% and Tesla Shanghai at 7.8%.
Despite the tariff headwind, Chinese brands' share in Europe has continued to climb. Observers note that hub port expansion is building the logistical foundation for automakers' transition from simple trade to genuine overseas localization.
Source: CAAM Customs Data / Autos Times / National Business Daily
