According to data compiled by the Gasgoo Automotive Research Institute, China's passenger vehicle exports across major global regions are showing a clear pattern of regional divergence. In the European market, Chery has taken the lead with explosive growth, while SAIC PV and BYD have followed closely to form a stable top tier. In Southeast Asia, Geely Auto ranks first, with most brands achieving rapid growth. In the North American market, however, performance has become increasingly polarized: only a few brands, such as SAIC-GM-Wuling and SAIC-GM, have maintained steady growth, while most automakers are facing mounting adjustment pressure.
Central and South America have become the strongest growth driver, led by BYD and Geely with growth rates exceeding 400%, while nearly all major brands recorded strong gains. In the Middle East, Chery remained the market leader despite a YoY decline, while BYD, Great Wall Motor, and Karry Auto achieved rapid growth against the trend, highlighting a shift in growth momentum.
Overall, Chinese automotive brands continue to increase their penetration in overseas markets. Competition is increasingly centered on product adaptation, localized operations, and compliance capabilities, as regional markets move toward more differentiated development.
Top 10 Chinese automakers by passenger vehicle exports to Europe
Chery Auto: 105,837 units, up 215.6% year-on-year
SAIC PV: 88,238 units, up 26.0% year-on-year
BYD Auto: 67,969 units, up 26.6% year-on-year
Tesla: 40,457 units, up 52.4% year-on-year
Geely Auto: 25,438 units, up 53.4% year-on-year
Leapmotor: 25,100 units, up 397.2% year-on-year
Spotlight Automotive: 12,543 units, up 46.5% year-on-year
Geely-Volvo: 9,655 units, up 298.1% year-on-year
eGT: 8,993 units, up 53.6% year-on-year
SAIC-GM-Wuling: 7,664 units, up 1099.4% year-on-year
In the first quarter of 2026, China's passenger vehicle exports to Europe showed a pattern of clear leadership and rapid expansion. Chery, SAIC PV, and BYD formed the leading tier, ranking as the top three exporters with 105,837 units, 88,238 units, and 67,969 units respectively.
Among them, Chery surged 215.6% YoY to take the top spot, becoming the first Chinese brand to export more than 100,000 vehicles to Europe in a single quarter, highlighting its strong product competitiveness and expanding channel presence in the region. Meanwhile, SAIC PV and BYD maintained steady growth of 26.0% and 26.6% respectively, further strengthening their market positions.
Notably, Tesla ranked fourth with exports of 40,457 units and a YoY increase of 52.4%, reflecting the strong recovery of supply from its Shanghai Gigafactory to the European market. Geely Auto and Leapmotor posted nearly identical export volumes at around 25,000 units each, but Leapmotor's 397.2% growth highlights the rapid rise of cost-effective EV startups in Europe.
In addition, Spotlight Automotive, Geely-Volvo, eGT, and SAIC-GM-Wuling ranked seventh to tenth, with export volumes of 12,543 units, 9,655 units, 8,993 units, and 7,664 units respectively. Although their overall volumes remain relatively small, their growth potential is significant. Among them, SAIC-GM-Wuling and Geely Volvo recorded explosive YoY growth of 1,099.4% and 298.1% respectively, indicating that their expansion in the European market has entered a fast-growth stage. Meanwhile, Spotlight Automotive and eGT maintained steady increases of 46.5% and 53.6% respectively.
Top 10 Chinese automakers by passenger vehicle exports to Southeast Asia
Geely Auto: 34,185 units, up 110.9% year-on-year
BYD Auto: 21,893 units, down 19.9% year-on-year
Chery Auto: 14,518 units, up 10.5% year-on-year
Zhengyi Auto: 7,985 units
Changan Auto: 7,042 units, up 9.1% year-on-year
JMC: 5,759 units, up 73.6% year-on-year
Leapmotor: 5,734 units, up 431.9% year-on-year
Great Wall Motor: 5,345 units, up 70.5% year-on-year
SAIC-GM-Wuling: 4,937 units, up 87.4% year-on-year
Tesla: 4,647 units, up 81.8% year-on-year
In the first quarter of 2026, China's passenger vehicle exports to Southeast Asia showed a clear trend of divergence. Geely Auto ranked first with exports of 34,185 units and a YoY increase of 110.9%, achieving strong gains in both volume and growth through precise market positioning and product adaptation in the region. BYD ranked second with 21,893 units exported, though its exports declined 19.9% YoY, reflecting short-term pressure. Chery came in third with 14,518 units, maintaining steady performance with moderate growth of 10.5%.
Meanwhile, most automakers achieved rapid growth. Leapmotor led the growth rankings with a YoY increase of 431.9%, while Jiangling Motors, Great Wall Motor, and SAIC-GM-Wuling recorded strong growth of 73.6%, 70.5%, and 87.4% respectively. Tesla China also maintained steady expansion with growth of 81.8%, highlighting the market's strong momentum.
Notably, newcomer Zhenyi Auto delivered an impressive performance, ranking fourth with exports of 7,985 units. In addition, Changan Auto posted stable growth of 9.1%.
Top 10 Chinese automakers by passenger vehicle exports to North America
SAIC-GM-Wuling: 35,235 units, up 40.1% year-on-year
SAIC-GM: 13,529 units, up 44.6% year-on-year
Changan Ford: 9,655 units, up 21.9% year-on-year
Chery Auto: 6,837 units, up 6.5% year-on-year
Geely Auto: 4,437 units, down 42.2% year-on-year
JMC: 2,687 units, down 4.6% year-on-year
Yueda Kia: 2,498 units, down 69.9% year-on-year
Leapmotor: 2,200 units
GAC Trumpchi: 1,899 units, down 65.4% year-on-year
SAIC PV: 1,001 units, down 80.5% year-on-year
In the first quarter of 2026, China's passenger vehicle exports to North America showed a polarized pattern, with the top three players demonstrating strong resilience while most mid- and lower-tier automakers faced pressure. SAIC-GM-Wuling remained the market leader with exports of 35,235 units, up 40.1% YoY. SAIC-GM ranked second with 13,529 units and growth of 44.6%, highlighting strong expansion momentum, while Changan Ford secured third place with 9,655 units and a 21.9% increase, maintaining steady growth.
Chery ranked fourth with exports of 6,837 units, posting modest growth of 6.5% and maintaining stable performance amid a challenging market environment.
In contrast, the lower half of the rankings reflected mounting industry pressure in the first quarter. Geely Auto and Jiangling Motors saw YoY declines of 42.2% and 4.6% respectively, while Jiangsu Yueda Kia, GAC Trumpchi, and SAIC PV posted sharper drops of 69.9%, 65.4%, and 80.5%. The overall downturn was mainly driven by changes in North American trade policies and intensifying market competition.
Notably, Leapmotor entered the top ten for the first time with exports of 2,200 units. As a representative EV startup, its future performance in the North American market remains worth watching.
Top 10 Chinese automakers by passenger vehicle exports to Central and South America
BYD Auto: 101,132 units, up 302.8% year-on-year
Chery Auto: 46,338 units, up 75.1% year-on-year
Geely Auto: 31,379 units, up 488.9% year-on-year
Great Wall Motor: 21,475 units, up 14.6% year-on-year
Yueda Kia: 13,415 units, up 18.7% year-on-year
Changan Auto: 12,333 units, up 399.3% year-on-year
JMC: 12,237 units, up 109.0% year-on-year
Tesla: 10,507 units, up 2309.9% year-on-year
SAIC-GM-Wuling: 8,464 units, up 100.0% year-on-year
SAIC PV: 7,760 units, up 92.1% year-on-year
In the first quarter of 2026, China's passenger vehicle exports to Central and South America showed a pattern of broad-based growth with clear leadership at the top. Among the leading players, BYD ranked first with exports of 101,132 units and a YoY increase of 302.8%, highlighting the strong competitiveness of its NEVs in the region.
Chery ranked second with exports of 46,338 units and growth of 75.1%, continuing to strengthen its market share through products well aligned with local consumer demand. Geely Auto came in third with 31,379 units, while its remarkable 488.9% growth underscored strong expansion momentum in the region. Great Wall Motor ranked fourth with exports of 21,475 units, posting moderate growth of 14.6%. Although its export scale remained among the leaders, its growth pace was relatively steady and conservative.
Top 10 Chinese automakers by passenger vehicle exports to Middle East
Chery Auto: 56,248 units, down 39.0% year-on-year
BYD Auto: 33,171 units, up 35.6% year-on-year
SAIC PV: 17,673 units, down 11.4% year-on-year
Yueda Kia: 12,344 units, down 46.8% year-on-year
Great Wall Motor: 11,877 units, up 40.0% year-on-year
Changan Auto: 11,866 units, down 43.1% year-on-year
Geely Auto: 11,291 units, down 58.9% year-on-year
Beijing Hyundai: 7,742 units, down 51.1% year-on-year
Karry Auto: 7,299 units, up 82.2% year-on-year
DFPV: 5,654 units, up 178.8% year-on-year
In the first quarter of 2026, China's passenger vehicle exports to the Middle East showed stable leadership rankings but diverging growth trends, with emerging brands posting strong gains against the market trend. Chery remained the region's top exporter with 56,248 units, although its exports declined 39.0% YoY, indicating weaker momentum among traditional leading brands.
BYD ranked second with exports of 33,171 units and strong growth of 35.6%, driven by new energy models that align well with the region's energy transition and upgrading consumer demand. SAIC PV came in third with 17,673 units, though its exports fell 11.4% YoY, reflecting short-term pressure.
Meanwhile, the market showed a clear polarization trend in the first quarter, with several traditional brands facing significant pressure. Jiangsu Yueda Kia, Changan Auto, Geely Auto, and Beijing Hyundai recorded YoY declines of 46.8%, 43.1%, 58.9%, and 51.1% respectively, likely affected by regional conflicts and intensifying competition.
In contrast, some automakers achieved strong counter-trend growth. DFPV posted growth of nearly 180%, delivering rapid expansion, while Karry and Great Wall Motor also maintained strong double-digit increases, becoming key drivers of China's vehicle exports to the Middle East.
