Gasgoo Munich- As 2026 begins, China's auto market has entered an adjustment period under pressure from policy shifts and other factors, with some automakers feeling the strain early. However, Chery Holding Group appears to be standing firm.
Official data shows Chery Group sold 200,269 vehicles in January, maintaining a scale above 200,000 units. Of this, exports totaled 119,605 units, a year-on-year increase of 48.1%, marking the ninth consecutive month where overseas sales exceeded 100,000 units, solidifying its position as China's top auto exporter. For the month, Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. (9973.HK) sales were 191,496 units.
Image source: Chery Holding Group (same below)
Steady performances across Chery Group's five passenger car brands underpinned the overall sales volume. January sales composition was as follows: Chery brand sold 135,551 units, Jetour brand sold 42,744 units, EXEED brand sold 4,506 units, Luxeed brand sold 5,276 units, and iCAR brand sold 3,419 units.
New Energy Vehicle Accelerates as New Models Solidify Growth
The industry is accelerating its transition toward electrification and intelligence, making the new energy sector a core battleground for automakers.
Data shows Chery Group's new energy vehicle sales reached 52,131 units in January, accounting for more than a quarter of the total 200,000-unit volume and serving as a key engine for performance growth.
Chery's new energy growth is characterized by a collaborative push across all categories and brands. Since the start of 2026, the group has rolled out a series of new products across its brands, with several key models entering the market through rapid iteration to generate buzz.
In passenger vehicles, Chery is optimizing its matrix for different consumer groups. Targeting avant-garde young families, the iCAR V27—a "smart hardcore five-seat SUV"—saw its first mass-production unit roll off the line as limited blind pre-orders opened, with a domestic launch planned for the first quarter. The Fulwin brand simultaneously launched two new models: the T9L, which entered the smart luxury SUV segment with high-end specifications and garnered 6,000 orders within 24 hours of blind pre-orders, and the A9, a "new-generation smart and beautiful sedan" that opened public crowdfunding and drew attention for its Oriental aesthetic design.
In commercial vehicles, Chery is also accelerating its transition to new energy. The Weilin R08 EV, its first pure electric pickup, officially hit the market, filling a gap in its product lineup and further completing its new energy vehicle layout.
Looking back at 2025, Chery maintained strong momentum in new energy vehicle, selling 903,847 NEV units for the year, a 54.9% increase that outpaced the industry average.
Globalization Deepens: From "Going Out" to "Fitting In"
If new energy is Chery's internal growth engine, then globalization is its primary external driver.
Data shows January export sales reached 119,605 vehicles, a year-on-year surge of 48.1%. This marks the ninth consecutive month of overseas sales exceeding 100,000 units, maintaining Chery's lead in Chinese auto exports and reflecting the competitiveness of Chinese vehicles abroad.
This overseas achievement is the result of over two decades of cultivation. To date, Chery Group's global user base has surpassed 18.73 million, with over 5.96 million overseas. Operating in more than 80 countries and regions, the company has set records for monthly, annual, and cumulative exports by a Chinese automaker, ranking first among Chinese passenger vehicle exporters for 23 consecutive years.
Chery's export model has gradually upgraded from an early focus on cost-effectiveness to a parallel strategy of "product, brand, and ecosystem" exports—realizing a global layout of "going out, fitting in, and taking root." Guided by the philosophy "In somewhere, For somewhere, Be somewhere," Chery aims to integrate into overseas markets as a local corporate citizen rather than merely a product exporter.
Breaking into highly regulated markets is a key sign of Chery's upgraded global strategy. In 2025, Chery entered 15 European countries, selling 237,453 vehicles in the UK and EU markets alone, a 240% year-on-year increase.
Deepening local partnerships has driven Chery's synergistic growth abroad. In 2024, Chery partnered with EV MOTORS to revitalize Spain's legendary EBRO brand. The move not only rebooted the brand but also brought back over 1,000 local jobs, injecting vitality into the regional economy. The collaboration garnered attention from local media and residents, as well as recognition from the Chinese Embassy in Spain, serving as a case study in Sino-Western win-win cooperation while elevating Chery's overseas profile.
The Spanish EBRO joint venture is a microcosm of Chery's localization strategy. In recent years, Chery has accelerated overseas local production, establishing eight major R&D centers across North America, Europe, and Shanghai. By adopting a model of "local R&D, local production, local sales, and local service," the company is navigating trade barriers and getting closer to consumer demand to achieve deep integration with overseas markets.
Looking Ahead to 2026: Anchoring New Targets and Deepening Global Reach
Building on its current momentum, Chery Group has set a higher bar for 2026: planning for full-year sales of 3.2 million vehicles, an increase of about 14.03% over 2025. Of that, Chery Automobile Co., Ltd., the main entity, aims to achieve 3-million-unit sales, up 14.01% YoY.
Looking ahead, Chery will continue expanding into highly regulated markets and deepening localization operations while consolidating its existing advantages, moving toward becoming a "global high-tech ecosystem group recognized by global users." Its dual-drive strategy—using new energy as an internal growth engine and globalization as an external expansion path—not only injects certainty into its own development but also provides a key blueprint for the Chinese auto industry's transformation from "manufacturing exports" to "brand and ecosystem exports."
