China's 2025 automotive exports grow 30%, led by new energy vehicles
China's automotive exports reached 8.32 million units in 2025, marking a 30% year-over-year increase. The new energy vehicle (NEV) segment saw particularly strong growth, with exports hitting 3.43 million units—a 70% surge. The top importers were Mexico, Russia, and the UAE.
How the Global Ranking of Chinese Car Importers Changed
According to data obtained by SPEEDME.RU from the CPCA, China exported 8.32 million vehicles abroad in 2025. Mexico led as the top importer with 625,187 cars, followed by Russia at 582,738 and the UAE at 571,937. Rounding out the list were the UK (335,551), Brazil (322,076), Saudi Arabia (302,189), Belgium (300,103), Australia (297,382), the Philippines (256,681), and Kazakhstan (211,545).
This represents a notable shift from the 2023–2024 structure, where Russia, Mexico, Belgium, and Australia dominated. In 2025, Mexico moved into first place, while the UAE significantly increased its share, emerging as one of the fastest-growing markets.
Growth in NEV Exports and Shifts in Global Demand
Exports of new energy vehicles reached 3.43 million units, accounting for 28% of total exports. Electric vehicles grew by 2%, capturing 28% of the overall market, while plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) rose to 13%—an 8% increase—and hybrids reached 6%, up 2%. Traditional gasoline-powered cars declined to 43%, an 11% drop.
Belgium was the top importer of NEVs, taking 284,921 units, followed by the UK (231,181), Mexico (221,027), Brazil (200,825), and the Philippines (200,544). Also in the top ten were Thailand, Australia, Indonesia, and India—markets that don't rank among the top ten overall importers but are actively purchasing electric vehicles.
Export Seasonality and the Impact of U.S. Tariffs
China's exports show consistent seasonality, with shipments typically higher in summer than in winter. In 2025, February through April saw a downturn due to U.S. tariffs, but growth resumed from May to November. December was especially active, driven by a surge in used car exports.
The average export price continues to fall: $17,000 in 2022, $19,000 in 2023, $18,000 in 2024, and $16,000 in 2025. This decline is attributed to a reduced share of high-margin exports from premium brands and U.S.-origin electric vehicles.