Gasgoo Munich-China' s passenger vehicle export footprint continued to widen in the first nine months of 2026, reaching markets including Russia, Brazil, the UK, Belgium, and Australia, according to export data from the Gasgoo Automotive Institute. New energy passenger vehicles stood out, with Brazil, Belgium, and the UK ranking as the top three destinations. Markets diverged significantly in export volume, growth rates, and powertrain mix — a sign that Chinese auto exports are shifting from simple scale expansion to a strategy of multi-market and multi-powertrain development.
Top 10 Destinations for China' s Passenger Vehicle Exports
No. 1 Russia. From January to September, China exported 727,579 passenger vehicles to Russia, rising 114.1% from a year earlier.
No. 2 Brazil. Exports to Brazil reached 511,323 units over the period, rising 150.3% year-on-year.
No. 3 United Kingdom. China shipped 417,120 passenger vehicles to the UK, rising 93.0% year-on-year.
No. 4 Belgium. Exports totaled 360,598 units, rising 59.4% from the previous year.
No. 5 Australia. Shipments to Australia reached 337,490 units, rising 82.1% year-on-year.
No. 6 Mexico. Exports to Mexico fell 18.8% to 261,591 units.
No. 7 Italy. China exported 236,431 passenger vehicles to Italy, rising 127.8% compared to last year.
No. 8 United Arab Emirates. Exports dropped 35.7% to 221,988 units.
No. 9 Spain. Shipments to Spain rose 72.3% to 196,780 units.
No. 10 Thailand. Exports to Thailand reached 162,057 units, rising 103.9% year-on-year.
Data from the Gasgoo Automotive Institute reveals clear regional divergence among the top 10 destinations for Chinese passenger vehicle exports in the first nine months of 2026. Russia held the top spot, followed by Brazil with 511,323 units. The UK, Belgium, and Australia rounded out the third to fifth positions. Europe claimed two of the top five spots, while South America, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and Oceania also contributed significant volumes, underscoring the widening reach of China' s export market.
Russia remains the top destination for Chinese passenger vehicles, with internal combustion engine (ICE) models dominating shipments. Exports to Russia totaled 727,579 units in the first nine months — a 114.1% increase — of which ICE vehicles accounted for 654,184 units, or roughly 90%. Thailand presents a sharp contrast: battery electric vehicle (BEV) exports there reached 144,696 units, claiming about 89% of the total.
Brazil became one of the fastest-growing major export markets, while European demand also remained robust. Exports to Brazil rose 150.3% to 511,323 units, the fastest pace among the top ten destinations. The UK, Italy, and Spain recorded growth of 93.0%, 127.8%, and 72.3%, respectively, while Belgium and Australia rose 59.4% and 82.1%. Notably, exports to Italy hit 236,431 units — a 127.8% increase — indicating that the scale and reach of Chinese passenger vehicles in Europe continue to expand.
Some traditional markets experienced declines, highlighting a divergence in performance. Mexico ranked sixth with 261,591 units, though that represented an 18.8% decline. The UAE followed with 221,988 units, down 35.7% — the steepest drop among the top ten. Notably, Mexico' s export mix resembles Russia' s, with ICE vehicles at 199,913 units, or about 76%. The structural differences among Russia, Mexico, and Thailand suggest that China' s export strategy isn' t about pushing a single powertrain, but rather deploying a complementary mix of ICE and electric products tailored to specific market needs.
Top 10 Destinations for China' s New Energy Passenger Vehicle Exports
No. 1 Brazil. China exported 367,793 new energy passenger vehicles to Brazil, rising 172.3% year-on-year.
No. 2 Belgium. Exports of new energy passenger vehicles to Belgium totaled 347,322 units, up 59.2%.
No. 3 United Kingdom. Shipments to the UK reached 311,087 units, rising 108.2% from the previous year.
No. 4 Australia. New energy passenger vehicle exports to Australia reached 252,823 units, an increase of 181.9%.
No. 5 Thailand. Exports to Thailand stood at 154,702 units, rising 122.2%.
No. 6 Germany. China shipped 139,734 new energy passenger vehicles to Germany, up 143.0%.
No. 7 Italy. Exports to Italy rose 240.5% to 130,298 units.
No. 8 Spain. New energy passenger vehicle exports to Spain reached 129,593 units, a 94.2% increase.
No. 9 South Korea. Exports to South Korea totaled 122,371 units, up 114.1%.
No. 10 United Arab Emirates. Exports to the UAE declined 1.2% to 88,835 units.
Destinations for China' s new energy passenger vehicle exports showed increasing diversification in the first nine months of 2026. Brazil, Belgium, and the UK took the top three spots, each exceeding 300,000 units. Australia ranked fourth with 252,823 units, followed by Thailand, Germany, Italy, Spain, and South Korea. Most of the top ten markets maintained rapid growth, with Italy, Australia, and Brazil recording particularly sharp gains of 240.5%, 181.9%, and 172.3%, respectively — evidence that the export volume of Chinese new energy vehicles continues to grow across multiple overseas markets.
Brazil, Belgium, and the UK form the first tier of new energy passenger vehicle exports, yet their powertrain profiles differ significantly. Brazil led with 367,793 units, divided almost evenly between battery electric vehicles (BEVs) at 186,628 units and plug-in hybrids/range-extended vehicles (PHEVs/REEVs) at 181,165 units. Belgium followed with 347,322 units, where BEVs accounted for 245,360 units — roughly 71% — indicating a clear preference for pure electric products. The UK ranked third with 311,087 units, also showing a relatively balanced mix. This difference suggests that Chinese automakers are tailoring their export strategies, deploying specific combinations of BEVs and PHEVs to match local demand.
Battery electric vehicles dominate the market in Thailand, Australia, and South Korea. Of the 154,702 new energy vehicles exported to Thailand, BEVs comprised 144,696 units — about 94% — consistent with the historical trend of China' s exports to the region being primarily electric. In Australia, BEV exports totaled 193,393 units, accounting for roughly 76% of new energy shipments. South Korea saw similar prevalence, with BEVs reaching 119,084 units, or about 97% of the total.
Notably, the UAE was the only market among the top ten to post a year-on-year decline, declining 1.2% to 88,835 units. Overall, the trend in China' s new energy passenger vehicle exports is expanding from a few traditional markets to a broader array of regions, with distinct powertrain structures gradually taking shape in each.
