China exports 8.2 million vehicles in nine months, full-year total expected to exceed 10 million
Chinese automakers are shifting from exporting individual models toward deeper globalization covering research and development, manufacturing, supply chains and after-sales services.
At an XPeng showroom in Beijing, a new model has attracted large numbers of potential buyers. Just over a month after its domestic launch, an international version was presented at the 2026 Paris Motor Show, with overseas deliveries scheduled to begin this year.
XPeng executive Wu Dipei said the vehicle was designed from the outset to meet regulatory requirements and adaptation needs in more than 60 countries and regions, helping reduce the gap between domestic and overseas launches.
Global development, however, does not mean simply selling identical vehicles everywhere. Manufacturers continue to adjust models to local road conditions and driving habits. Li Auto, for example, tunes vehicle performance differently for China and Europe and takes narrower European city streets into account.
Chinese automakers are also establishing overseas research centers and localizing production. Guangzhou Automobile Group said it is moving toward a systematic global approach covering vehicle development, manufacturing, supply chains and services.
According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, China exported 8.205 million vehicles in the first three quarters of this year, up 65.8 percent year on year. Full-year exports are expected to exceed 10 million units.
New energy vehicles accounted for 48.8 percent of total exports, with shipments rising about 2.3 times from a year earlier, significantly faster than the 31.6-percent growth recorded by conventional fuel vehicles.
According to CCTV+, China's auto export growth is increasingly being driven by technology, localization, global research and development and the expansion of new energy vehicles.
