Against the backdrop of the global automotive industry entering a stock game, regional divergence in electrification, and geopolitical reshaping of supply chains, China's automotive globalization has moved beyond the early-stage model of simple vehicle exports. It is now undergoing a deep transformation from product-trade-based globalization to a comprehensive ecosystem globalization that integrates manufacturing, supply chains, and services. Gasgoo Automotive Research Institute, in collaboration with AlixPartners, leverages the latest globalization data and corporate practices to decode the key characteristics and growth logic of this new phase of China's automotive globalization from four dimensions: industry overview, market landscape, core trends, and representative manufacturers.
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The core content of the report is as follows:
Industry Overview
The global automotive market has entered a phase of low-speed steady growth, with two core shifts in the industrial landscape: First, the electrification process has shifted from global synchronization to regional differentiation, with China, Europe, Southeast Asia, and North America progressing at distinct paces. Second, the industrial paradigm has shifted from efficiency-driven globalization to security- and sovereignty-driven regional closed loops, where local content, data compliance, and equity governance have become new entry barriers.
China's automotive globalization is simultaneously entering a stage of structural upgrading, marked by three key transformations: At the product level, the shift is from exporting single models to adapting diverse powertrain matrices. In the supply chain, the focus has moved from OEMs operating alone to collaborative globalization of core components. In business models, the transition is from vehicle sales to integrated ecosystem development encompassing channels, finance, after-sales, and charging infrastructure. Trade barriers, geopolitical fluctuations, policy volatility, and insufficient localization adaptation have emerged as core challenges that must be overcome in this new phase.
Market Landscape
The scale of China's passenger vehicle exports continues to rise, with ongoing optimization in three structural aspects: export regions, powertrain types, and corporate entities.
At the regional level, the Middle East became China's largest passenger vehicle export market in 2025, with year-on-year growth of approximately 30%. The European market showed a significant recovery, with growth of about 40%, rising to the second position. Central and South America, as well as Southeast Asia, maintained steady growth, with Southeast Asia entering a period of explosive electrification growth.
In terms of powertrain structure, globalization has shifted from a single breakthrough in pure electric vehicles (BEVs) to a diversified pattern where internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles provide a foundation, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and hybrids lead growth, and BEVs are selectively deployed. ICE vehicles still dominate in markets with weak infrastructure, such as the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. PHEVs/hybrids are rapidly gaining traction in regions with underdeveloped charging infrastructure and high fuel prices, such as Latin America and Europe. BEVs are strategically deployed in regions with policy support and clear high-end demand.
Regarding corporate entities, leading state-owned and private automakers have become the absolute main force. Independent brands like Chery, BYD, SAIC, and Geely dominate the top export rankings, while the share of foreign joint venture brands in exports continues to shrink.
Development Trends
In the short term, China's passenger vehicle exports are expected to maintain high growth momentum, with export volume projected to exceed 7 million units in 2026. Localized production and expansion into new markets will be the core growth drivers.
From a medium- to long-term perspective, China's automotive globalization exhibits four clear trends: First, the brand landscape will continue to consolidate, with leading independent brands capturing global incremental demand. Second, multiple powertrain routes will coexist, with the strategic importance of PHEVs and REEVs continuing to rise. Third, the focus will shift from vehicle exports to collaborative globalization of the entire industry chain, with simultaneous deployment of components, software, and services. Fourth, Sino-foreign industrial cooperation will evolve from channel partnerships to deep integration in capital, technology, manufacturing, and ecosystems.
In the long term, China's automotive industry aims to transition from leveraging cost advantages and reconstructing localized strengths to ultimately exporting global industrial paradigms, achieving a shift from being a participant to a standard-setter.
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