China's auto exports hit record high
According to data collected by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) based on General Administration of Customs, China's total automotive product imports and exports in the first half of 2026 reached US$164.74 billion, up 25.5% year‑on‑year. When the global automotive market undergoes tectonic shifts and China's auto industry becomes a driving force of world trade, foreign trade figures speak louder than any forecast. A 33% export growth in half a year is not just statistics – it is a signal that China is steadily transforming from a production base into a global player shaping new standards and supply chains. Nearly US$145.5 billion in export revenue is not only an achievement of carmakers but also a reflection of a systemic strategy: from technology development to logistics route building. And with imports falling by almost 12%, it is clear that China is not only ramping up its own production but also replacing imported components with domestic ones, strengthening technological sovereignty.
Of this total, exports reached US$145.49 billion, up 33% year‑on‑year, while imports over the same period fell 11.8% to US$19.25 billion. In June alone, China's total automotive product trade rose 35.5% year‑on‑year to US$31.82 billion, up 8% from the previous month. June exports came to US$28.43 billion, up 10.0% month‑on‑month and 47.2% year‑on‑year, while imports fell to US$3.39 billion, down 6.1% from May and 18.7% year‑on‑year.
The record‑breaking automotive trade figures are the result of several factors: the aggressive overseas expansion of Chinese brands, especially in the electric vehicle segment; the growing popularity of Chinese cars in Asia, Europe and Latin America; and government support for export‑oriented manufacturing. According to CAAM, China's vehicle exports exceeded 3.7 million units in the first half of the year, with one in three exported vehicles being electric. The decline in imports is linked to active import substitution in key components – batteries, electric motors and electronic control systems – which were previously supplied from abroad. The 47% year‑on‑year surge in June exports marked the best monthly performance in the past two years, confirming the sustained upward trend in China's foreign trade presence.
As CCTV+ reports, the success of China's automotive industry in overseas markets has already become a key topic at industry forums, with further growth expected from new model launches and the expansion of overseas production capacities, including assembly plants in Europe and Southeast Asia.
