According to data from the Gasgoo Automotive Research Institute, China's passenger vehicle and new energy vehicle (NEV) exports maintained strong growth from January to March 2026, with export destinations becoming increasingly optimized and diversified.
On one hand, passenger vehicle exports continued to be driven by key markets such as Russia, Brazil, and the UK, each exceeding 100,000 units. Russia reached 186,765 units, supported by supply gaps and strong channel expansion advantages.
On the other hand, NEV exports expanded further across Europe and multiple global regions. Brazil led with 127,001 units and a sharp 271.1% YOY increase, while European countries including the UK, Belgium, Italy, Germany, and Spain all ranked among the top 10 destinations, highlighting the growing competitiveness of Chinese NEVs in high-barrier mature markets.
Top 10 destination countries by China's passenger vehicle exports
Russia: 186,765 units (+97.1% YoY) from January to March 2026
Brazil: 166,787 units (+242.8% YoY) from January to March 2026
UK: 108,827 units (+115.7% YoY) from January to March 2026
United Arab Emirates: 107,323 units (+5.6% YoY) from January to March 2026
Belgium: 80,111 units (+18.7% YoY) from January to March 2026
Italy: 71,333 units (+108.3% YoY) from January to March 2026.
Australia: 63,644 units (+31.4% YoY) from January to March 2026.
Mexico: 60,408 units (-44.7% YoY) from January to March 2026.
Spain: 55,583 units (+54.5% YoY) from January to March 2026.
Saudi Arabia: 51,928 units (-7.0% YoY) from January to March 2026.
From the distribution of China's passenger vehicle export destinations in January–March 2026, Russia (186,765 units), Brazil (166,787 units), and the UK (108,827 units) ranked as the top three markets, forming the core support for overall exports. Among them, the Russian market continued to benefit from supply gaps caused by changes in the external environment, while Chinese automakers further strengthened their leading position through strong product adaptability and expanding distribution networks.
Meanwhile, the European market maintained solid growth momentum. The UK (108,827 units), Belgium (80,111 units), Italy (71,333 units), and Spain (55,583 units) all posted strong YoY growth, reflecting the continued expansion of Chinese brands through NEV product launches and channel development, with overall market share continuing to rise. However, growth in Europe is still influenced by policy changes, trade factors, and local competition, meaning future opportunities are likely to remain more structural than broad-based.
The Latin American market showed clear polarization. Brazil surged to second place with 166,787 units exported, up 242.8% YoY, while exports to Mexico declined by 44.7%, partly due to tariff policy changes and the early release of export demand at the end of 2025. This divergence highlights that the development of Chinese automakers in Latin America remains highly dependent on the policy cycles and market conditions of individual countries.
In addition, the two major Middle Eastern markets entered a period of more stable adjustment. Exports to the UAE (107,323 units) rose only 5.6%, while Saudi Arabia (51,928 units) declined 7.0% YoY, marking a slowdown from previous rapid growth. Although consumer demand and distribution networks remain solid, growth has been affected by oil price fluctuations and intensifying regional competition.
Overall, China's passenger vehicle exports are shifting from reliance on a few high-growth markets toward a more diversified structure with multiple regions contributing simultaneously, while competition is increasingly driven by product strength and brand recognition rather than pure volume expansion.
Top 10 destination countries by China's new energy passenger vehicle exports
Brazil: 127,001 NEV passenger vehicles (+271.1% YoY) from January to March 2026
Belgium: 77,517 NEV passenger vehicles (+20.5% YoY) from January to March 2026
UK: 74,840 NEV passenger vehicles (+130.9% YoY) from January to March 2026
United Arab Emirates: 47,581 NEV passenger vehicles (+109.8% YoY) from January to March 2026
Italy: 42,251 NEV passenger vehicles (+615.1% YoY) from January to March 2026
Germany: 39,181 NEV passenger vehicles (+350.9% YoY) from January to March 2026
Australia: 37,659 NEV passenger vehicles (+96.8% YoY) from January to March 2026
Spain: 31,853 NEV passenger vehicles (+102.0% YoY) from January to March 2026
South Korea: 29,757 NEV passenger vehicles (+371.0% YoY) from January to March 2026
Thailand: 24,018 NEV passenger vehicles (+11.2% YoY) from January to March 2026
From January to March 2026, Brazil led Chinese NEV passenger vehicle exports with 127,001 units, achieving a YoY increase of 271.1% and serving as the core growth engine for China's NEV overseas sales. Belgium and the UK ranked second and third with 77,517 and 74,840 units, respectively; the UK maintained rapid growth with a 130.9% YoY increase, while Belgium, as an important European re-export hub, sustained a large export volume despite a more modest 20.5% growth.
From a regional perspective, Europe further strengthened its position in China's NEV passenger vehicle export landscape. Belgium (77,517 units), the UK (74,840 units), Italy (42,251 units), Germany (39,181 units), and Spain (31,853 units) all ranked among the top ten destinations.This was mainly driven by Europe's accelerating electrification transition, temporary shortages in local supply, and the cost and product advantages of Chinese brands in the BEV segment.
The Middle East and Asia-Pacific markets showed different trends. The UAE ranked fourth with 47,581 units exported and a 109.8% YoY increase, benefiting from the region's green transition, stronger NEV demand amid high oil prices, and the continued expansion of Chinese premium NEV brands. Australia (37,659 units) grew 96.8%, maintaining its strong momentum as an NEV-friendly market.
South Korea (29,757 units) posted an impressive 371.0% increase, indicating that Chinese NEVs are reshaping competition in neighboring East Asian markets through stronger product competitiveness. In contrast, Thailand (24,018 units) recorded a relatively moderate 11.2% growth. However, supported by a high market base and the strong presence of Chinese brands, it continued to maintain stable export volume.
Overall, in Q1 2026, China's NEV passenger car exports were marked by both high growth and broad market coverage. Super-high growth was seen in countries such as Brazil, Italy, Germany, and South Korea, while markets like Belgium and Thailand provided stable support. The coordinated performance across Europe, emerging markets, and Asia-Pacific & Middle East regions highlights the global competitiveness of Chinese NEVs and lays a solid foundation for sustained export growth going forward.
