At the 140th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair), the new-energy vehicle and smart-mobility zone has drawn a stream of overseas buyers who are no longer content to simply shop — they want to become distributors. "What we must do now is strengthen cooperation with Chinese companies and become agents before others do, selling Chinese new-energy vehicles back to Europe," said Calzada Amorrortu Martin, a Spanish buyer, in an interview with China News Service at the ongoing fair.
As a traditional car dealer, Martin acknowledged that China's leadership in new-energy vehicles (NEVs) is an indisputable fact and that Europe must face it pragmatically. He has mapped a cooperation path: start with agency sales, then introduce Chinese technology, build local plants through industrial-chain cooperation, and localize NEV manufacturing. Another Spanish buyer, Blanco Aparicio Jesus Maria, noted that while European firms initially feared market displacement and job losses, the right move is to seek differentiated cooperation — for example, partnering with Chinese firms on charging infrastructure.
The bustling zone is a microcosm of China's continued global leadership in the NEV industry. Data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers shows that in the first three quarters of 2026 China's NEV exports reached 4.006 million units, up 1.3 times year on year — far outpacing overall vehicle-export growth — with NEV exports exceeding half of total vehicle exports for four straight months. Behind the numbers is the relentless technology innovation and market-layout optimization of Chinese automakers.
At GAC's booth, models such as the Qijing GX7 and a DC super-fast-charging pile drew crowds of overseas buyers. By the end of September, GAC had built 7 overseas plants, 9 parts transit warehouses and 4 global R&D centers. New-energy heavy trucks for freight also made their debut, reflecting how the product range going global keeps expanding.
The recent consensus between China and the EU on hybrid and electric-vehicle trade has provided a stable, predictable and sustainable environment for both industries, with observers noting that "the essence of China-EU economic ties is mutual benefit and win-win results."
Source: China News Service / China News Network
