Chery Holding Group (奇瑞控股集团) exported 191,062 vehicles in June 2026, up 79.7% year-on-year, setting a new record for Chinese automakers’ monthly exports and marking the fourth consecutive month in which the company has broken the national record.
According to sales figures released on July 1, Chery’s overseas deliveries reached 943,817 units in the first half of 2026, an increase of 71.5% from the same period last year. The company is now approaching the one-million-unit export milestone before the end of June, underscoring the rapid expansion of Chinese automakers in overseas markets.
Chery’s new energy vehicle (NEV) sales totaled 113,583 units in June, up 58.7% year-on-year. The strong growth indicates that international demand for Chinese NEVs continues to rise alongside traditional fuel-powered models.
Chery’s performance comes as China’s automotive exports continue to accelerate. Geely Automobile (吉利汽车) reported exports of 102,874 vehicles in June, surpassing the 100,000-unit mark for the first time and posting year-on-year growth of 157%. NEVs accounted for 61.6% of Geely’s export volume, while its first-half exports reached 474,228 units, already exceeding its total exports for the whole of 2025.
Industry forecasts suggest the momentum is likely to continue. In its latest Global Automotive Market Outlook released on June 30, AlixPartners (艾睿铂) projected that China’s vehicle exports could approach 10 million units in 2026, representing approximately 41% year-on-year growth. The consulting firm also estimated that Chinese brands currently hold around 10% of the European passenger vehicle market and could increase that share to 16% by 2030.
Chinese automakers are increasingly pairing exports with localized production strategies. Chery has established manufacturing operations in Brazil, Argentina, Spain, and Thailand, while expanding its Omoda (欧萌达) and Jaecoo (捷途山海) brands across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Similar localization efforts are being pursued by BYD (比亚迪), Great Wall Motor (长城汽车), and SAIC Motor (上汽集团) as Chinese automakers seek to strengthen their positions in overseas markets.
The export boom is also reshaping global supply chains. As Chinese automakers build factories abroad, battery manufacturers, component suppliers, and automotive technology companies are increasingly following them into key markets such as Thailand, Hungary, Brazil, and Mexico, helping create localized industrial ecosystems around Chinese vehicle production.
The trend coincides with the implementation of China’s first administrative regulation governing outbound investment, which officially took effect on July 1. The regulation consolidates oversight previously administered by the National Development and Reform Commission (国家发展和改革委员会) and the Ministry of Commerce (商务部), providing a more unified framework for Chinese companies expanding overseas.
As export volumes continue to rise and overseas production networks mature, Chinese automakers are moving beyond a pure export model toward deeper participation in global markets. Chery’s latest record highlights not only the company’s growing international footprint but also the broader transformation of China’s automotive industry into a major force in the global market.