Chinese independent automakers are demonstrating strong sales characteristics in certain overseas markets. In April 2026, sales of Chinese independent brands in overseas markets reached 410,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 60%. For the period from January to April 2026, sales totaled 1.51 million units, representing a 58% year-on-year growth. The retail performance of Chinese independent brands in measurable overseas markets is robust.
While China's automotive export market has experienced exceptionally strong growth over the past two years, its market share varies significantly across different regions overseas. The share stands at 20% in the Southern Hemisphere, 11% in Europe, and around 8% in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, with mainstream regions reaching approximately 10%. However, exports to the United States, Japan, and South Korea remain cautious. In the new energy vehicle (NEV) sector, Chinese NEVs are performing exceptionally well globally, with a pronounced overseas spillover effect. From January to April 2026, they captured 61% of the global market share, with 17% in Europe, 79% in the Southern Hemisphere, and around 46% in Southeast Asia and West Asia, achieving absolute dominance in some areas.
Currently, for the January-April 2026 period, the share of Chinese independent brands in overseas sales is led by an exceptionally strong performance in Russia. Regions such as Oceania and Africa have shares exceeding 20%, while Central and South America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia are around 15%. The share in the European Union is 7%, with Japan, South Korea, and the United States being nearly zero. In 2026, Chinese automakers including BYD COMPANY (SEHK: 01211), GEELY AUTO (SEHK: 00175), Chery, and SAIC have seen their market shares notably increase in Oceania and Southeast Asia. Japanese automakers such as Toyota, Honda, and Suzuki are facing increased pressure in Oceania, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
Overseas Performance of Chinese Independent Automakers
The monthly sales trend of Chinese independent automakers in certain overseas regions has been strengthening in recent years. China's automotive exports have consistently grown stronger, showing a pattern of peaking in the summer before declining. Looking at retail export data for Chinese vehicles overseas, monthly trends have been relatively stable, with good growth momentum recently. Particularly, the acceleration starting in 2025 has driven exceptionally high year-on-year growth at the beginning of 2026. Sales from January to April were second only to December 2025, similar to the trend at the beginning of 2024.
Chinese independent automakers exhibit strong sales characteristics in specific overseas regions. In 2025, sales of Chinese independent automakers in consistently measurable overseas regions reached 3.54 million units, a 28% year-on-year increase. As mentioned, April 2026 saw sales of 410,000 units (up 60% YoY), and the January-April period saw 1.51 million units (up 58% YoY), indicating excellent retail performance in these measurable overseas markets.
Substantial Growth in Overseas Data for Chinese Exports
China's automotive export performance is outstanding, showing extremely rapid growth according to Chinese customs data. Statistics from local overseas markets also indicate a stronger and more favorable growth trend for Chinese vehicle exports. The development of China's overseas markets has been volatile. In 2025, retail was strong in Southeast Asia, Africa, and the European Union, while export trends were weaker in regions like Russia/Central Asia, the United States, and India. The primary reason for the exceptionally strong overseas growth is that past automotive exports were often directed to less developed countries like Africa or markets difficult to measure statistically, so overseas data did not fully reflect this. Current exports are now demonstrating more prominence in some high-end overseas markets. Consequently, the growth rate of Chinese vehicle exports reflected in overseas data has shown a strong upward trend from 2023 to 2025, with a particularly explosive growth phase since 2022. This includes three consecutive years of strong growth in the European market, a dip in 2024, and a stronger performance in the EU market in 2025.
The overall market share of vehicle sales in overseas markets varies greatly, as previously noted: 20% in the Southern Hemisphere, 11% in Europe, around 8% in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, with mainstream regions at about 10%. Exports to the US, Japan, and South Korea remain cautious. Chinese new energy vehicles are performing exceptionally on the world stage with a clear overseas spillover effect, achieving a 61% global share from January to April 2026. Within this, Europe holds 17%, the Southern Hemisphere 79%, and Southeast Asia and West Asia around 46%, representing absolute dominance in some areas.
Currently, for the January-April 2026 period, the share of Chinese independent overseas sales is primarily driven by an exceptionally strong performance in Russia. Shares exceed 20% in regions like Oceania and Africa, are around 15% in Central and South America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, 7% in the European Union, and nearly zero in Japan, South Korea, and the United States. Some countries like India have their own automotive industries, indicating the multipolar characteristics of the world auto industry remain unchanged.
In 2026, Chinese automakers including BYD, Geely, Chery, and SAIC have significantly increased their market shares in Oceania and Southeast Asia. Japanese automakers such as Toyota, Honda, and Suzuki are facing increased pressure in Oceania, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
Tracking Chinese Independent Automakers Overseas
Tracking overseas sales data for Chinese automakers shows their export performance has been strengthening in recent years, with major automakers showing particularly outstanding results. Currently, leading automakers like Chery, BYD, SAIC, Great Wall Motor Company Limited (SHSE: 601633), and Geely are exhibiting very strong trends. BYD's exports have been especially robust and favorable recently.
Regarding the overseas status of Chinese independent brand new energy vehicles, the main highlights in export performance are seen with BYD, Chery Auto, SAIC's MG brand, Geely, and Leapmotor. Particularly, Chery's new energy vehicle sales overseas have been extremely eye-catching recently, and SAIC's transformation following EU sanctions has been prominent.
In mainstream overseas markets, Chinese automakers show distinct characteristics, with each manufacturer having its own advantageous markets. BYD has developed rapidly in a comprehensive manner, quickly entering some developed markets and establishing a certain scale, demonstrating strong independent overseas competitiveness. Both Chery and SAIC possess strong advantages in specific overseas markets. Chery performs very strongly in markets like Russia, Brazil, and South Africa. SAIC shows exceptional strength in markets like the UK, Italy, and Australia. Geely also demonstrates strong growth overseas in Russia and Saudi Arabia, though some of this is reflected through overseas brands. Changan performs well in markets like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Chile. Great Wall Motor also shows an extremely favorable trend in the Russian market, the South African market, and some other markets.
New energy vehicle startups have also achieved some results in overseas market expansion. Both Xpeng and Leapmotor have certain overseas sales volumes, with Israel being a significant market for Chinese independent new forces.
Data from some overseas markets corroborates Chinese customs export data, showing strong performance for Chinese new energy vehicle exports, with independent brands doing well. Recently, Chinese automakers have shown massive scale in markets like Thailand, Brazil, Indonesia, Israel, the UK, Germany, and other major markets. In Nordic markets, automakers like SAIC, Geely, and BYD have performed relatively excellently. New forces also have relatively good performance in markets like the Netherlands and Norway, with several startups mainly entering Europe via Norway, achieving a certain scale and demonstrating a good breakthrough for Chinese automakers in overseas markets.
Situation in the Russian Market
Due to weaker technology and product strength, Russia's domestic automotive industry is mainly concentrated in the lower-end market with lower price segments. The sales champion in the Russian automotive market is Lada, popular primarily due to its low price, which meets the needs of Russian car users. Russia requires vehicles imported via transit through Central Asian countries to pay various taxes and fees, including tariffs, value-added tax, and excise tax. Russia announced that from October 1, 2024, the import vehicle recycling fee would increase by 70% to 85%, rising by 10% to 20% annually until 2030. The recycling fee is a mandatory tax for environmental disposal when a vehicle is scrapped. Like VAT and tariffs, it is a significant factor affecting the cost of imported cars. By 2025, Russia's import vehicle recycling fee had increased to 667,000 rubles (approximately $7,500), doubling from 2023. This directly increases costs for imported models from China and elsewhere, leading to a 10%-15% rise in terminal selling prices.
Relying on strong technological advancements and supply chain advantages, Chinese independent automakers show relatively strong characteristics in Russia. Chery achieved a monthly sales level exceeding 20,000 units in 2025. Particularly, Chery has achieved comprehensive development in Russia through multiple brands, involving localized production, contract manufacturing, and imported vehicle combinations, realizing super-strong growth and a joint development trend. Great Wall Motor performs relatively prominently in Russia, especially with its Haval and Tank brands. The Haval brand has achieved super-strong development for small fuel vehicles in the Russian market, with models like the Haval Chulian performing exceptionally well. Geely has also achieved super-strong growth in Russia, with both locally contract-manufactured products and imported models performing relatively strongly, especially products like Zeekr. Other Chinese automakers are also strong, with products from BAIC and others performing relatively well in Russia.
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