According to Gasgoo Automotive Research Institute, from January to September 2026, Chinese automakers continued to expand their global reach, exporting vehicles across multiple regions, including Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Central and South America, with a diverse range of powertrain types. Regional export rankings reveal differences in automakers' overseas strategies and performance. Some companies have maintained substantial export volumes across multiple markets through multi-brand operations and economies of scale, while others have achieved rapid growth in specific regions and gradually expanded their overseas business. Overall, Chinese automakers are moving beyond expansion in individual markets toward broader multi-regional presence and more differentiated overseas strategies.
Top 10 OEMs by China-made passenger vehicle exports to Europe
NO.1 Chery Auto: 426,022 units, up 275.7% year-on-year
NO.2 BYD Auto: 336,163 units, up 61.7% year-on-year
NO.3 SAIC PV: 329,843 units, up 53.7% year-on-year
NO.4 Geely Auto: 159,148 units, up 151.3% year-on-year
NO.5 Tesla: 112,725 units, up 51.4% year-on-year
NO.6 Leapmotor: 99,004 units, up 324.1% year-on-year
NO.7 Spotlight Automotive: 37,403 units, down 0.3% year-on-year
NO.8 eGT: 24,327 units, up 34.8% year-on-year
NO.9 Changan Auto: 23,728 units, up 109.7% year-on-year
NO.10 Beijing Hyundai: 18,981 units, up 182.6% year-on-year
From January to September 2026, Chery Auto ranked first in the European market with exports of 426,022 units, up 275.7% YoY, maintaining a clear lead over other automakers. BYD and SAIC PV ranked second and third, with 336,163 and 329,843 units exported, respectively. Their export volumes were relatively close, placing the three automakers in the leading tier. Geely Auto ranked fourth with 159,148 units, trailing the top three by a considerable margin, but recorded strong year-on-year growth of 151.3%.
In terms of growth, Leapmotor posted the highest increase among the top 10, with exports rising 324.1% year-on-year to 99,004 units, placing sixth. Chery Auto also more than tripled its exports compared with the same period last year. Changan Auto and Beijing Hyundai recorded growth of 109.7% and 182.6%, respectively. By contrast, Beam Auto was the only automaker in the top 10 to register a decline, with exports down 0.3% year-on-year.
Top 10 OEMs by China-made passenger vehicle exports to Southeast Asia
NO.1 Geely Auto: 147,274 units, up 160.6% year-on-year
NO.2 BYD Auto: 110,697 units, up 1.5% year-on-year
NO.3 Chery Auto: 64,795 units, up 1.3% year-on-year
NO.4 Zhenyi Auto (Chery Holding): 59,188 units
NO.5 Changan Auto: 24,582 units, down 5.6% year-on-year
NO.6 Tesla: 21,522 units, up 67.2% year-on-year
NO.7 Great Wall Motor: 20,122 units, up 33.6% year-on-year
NO.8 SAIC-GM-Wuling: 18,569 units, up 103.2% year-on-year
NO.9 Leapmotor: 18,301 units, up 213.3% year-on-year
NO.10 SAIC PV: 18,280 units, up 57.8% year-on-year
From January to September 2026, Geely Auto ranked first in Southeast Asia with exports of 147,274 units, up 160.6% YoY and 36,577 units ahead of BYD Auto in second place. BYD and Chery ranked second and third, with exports of 110,697 and 64,795 units, respectively. However, their YoY growth was relatively modest at 1.5% and 1.3%. Zhenyi Auto ranked fourth with 59,188 units, close to Chery Auto's export volume. Both companies are part of Chery Holding, with combined exports of 123,983 units, highlighting the scale of Chery Holding's presence in Southeast Asia.
In terms of YoY growth, Leapmotor recorded the highest increase among the listed automakers, with exports rising 213.3% to 18,301 units. SAIC-GM-Wuling also achieved strong growth of 103.2%, ranking eighth. Tesla, Great Wall Motor and SAIC PV likewise posted varying degrees of growth. Changan Auto, by contrast, recorded a 5.6% decline, making it the only automaker with a reported decrease. Overall, exports to Southeast Asia were concentrated among the leading automakers, with Geely, BYD and Chery taking the top three positions, while companies such as Leapmotor and SAIC-GM-Wuling also recorded rapid growth.
Top 10 OEMs by China-made passenger vehicle exports to North America
NO.1 SAIC-GM-Wuling: 100,658 units, up 20.3% year-on-year
NO.2 SAIC-GM: 37,517 units, up 81.1% year-on-year
NO.3 Changan-Ford: 33,205 units, up 28.0% year-on-year
NO.4 Geely Auto: 29,629 units, up 37.3% year-on-year
NO.5 SAIC PV: 26,864 units, up 18.7% year-on-year
NO.6 Chery Auto: 23,193 units, down 8.3% year-on-year
NO.7 Jiangsu Yueda Kia: 20,769 units, down 6.6% year-on-year
NO.8 Tesla: 15,065 units, up 130.4% year-on-year
NO.9 BYD Auto: 13,195 units, down 83.2% year-on-year
NO.10 Jiangling Motor: 13,006 units, up 25.2% year-on-year
From January to September 2026, SAIC-GM-Wuling ranked first in North America with exports of 100,658 units, significantly ahead of other automakers and approximately 2.7 times the volume of SAIC-GM in second place. Internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles accounted for the majority of its exports. SAIC-GM ranked second with 37,517 units, followed by Changan-Ford, Geely Auto and SAIC PV, each exporting between 26,000 and 33,000 units and forming the second tier. Overall, SAIC-owned automakers held multiple positions in the ranking, with SAIC-GM-Wuling, SAIC-GM and SAIC Motor Passenger Vehicle combining for exports of 165,039 units.
In terms of YoY growth, Tesla recorded a 130.4% increase, followed by SAIC-GM at 81.1% and Geely Auto at 37.3%. BYD Auto, by contrast, saw exports decline by 83.2%, while Chery Auto and Jiangsu Yueda Kia also recorded decreases. This divergence is related not only to automakers' product portfolios and market strategies, but also to North American trade policies, tariff arrangements and the broader geopolitical environment. In recent years, changes in trade policies governing automotive and auto parts imports, together with regional trade rules and requirements for supply chain localization, have added uncertainty to automakers' export operations.
Top 10 OEMs by China-made passenger vehicle exports to Central & South America
NO.1 BYD Auto: 293,512 units, up 151.3% year-on-year
NO.2 Chery Auto: 188,157 units, up 95.7% year-on-year
NO.3 Geely Auto: 102,594 units, up 450.3% year-on-year
NO.4 Great Wall Motor: 96,250 units, up 96.9% year-on-year
NO.5 Changan Auto: 56,606 units, up 260.8% year-on-year
NO.6 Jiangsu Yueda Kia: 52,303 units, up 44.2% year-on-year
NO.7 SAIC-GM-Wuling: 42,338 units, up 152.4% year-on-year
NO.8 Jiangling Motor: 34,126 units, up 20.7% year-on-year
NO.9 SAIC PV: 32,389 units, up 111.2% year-on-year
NO.10 Tesla: 25,099 units, up 1,935.6% year-on-year
From January to September 2026, BYD Auto ranked first in Central and South America with exports of 293,512 units, up 151.3% YoY and 105,355 units ahead of Chery Auto in second place. Chery exported 188,157 units, representing 95.7% growth. Geely Auto and Great Wall Motor ranked third and fourth with 102,594 and 96,250 units, respectively. Their export volumes were relatively close, with both exceeding 90,000 units. The top four automakers each exported more than 90,000 units, making them the leading contributors to China-made passenger vehicle exports to the region.
In terms of YoY growth, all 10 automakers recorded increases. Tesla posted the highest growth rate, with exports surging 1,935.6% to 25,099 units, placing it tenth in the ranking. Geely Auto and Changan Auto followed with growth of 450.3% and 260.8%, ranking third and fifth, respectively. SAIC-GM-Wuling, BYD and Changan Auto also achieved triple-digit growth. By contrast, Jiangling Motor recorded the lowest growth among the top 10, at 20.7%. Overall, the market was characterized by relatively large export volumes among the leading automakers and growth across all 10 companies, although growth rates varied considerably.
Top 10 OEMs by China-made passenger vehicle exports to the Middle East
NO.1 Chery Auto: 115,786 units, up 4.5% year-on-year
NO.2 BYD Auto: 91,383 units, up 11.4% year-on-year
NO.3 Geely Auto: 47,131 units, down 13.5% year-on-year
NO.4 SAIC PV: 47,106 units, down 35.0% year-on-year
NO.5 Great Wall Motor: 46,091 units, up 15.9% year-on-year
NO.6 Changan Auto: 38,716 units, up 2.1% year-on-year
NO.7 Jiangsu Yueda Kia: 36,571 units, down 42.4% year-on-year
NO.8 Southeast Auto (Chery Holding): 28,969 units, down 25.5% year-on-year
NO.9 Beijing Hyundai: 25,125 units, down 20.5% year-on-year
NO.10 Karry Auto (Chery Holding): 24,601 units, up 30.2% year-on-year
From January to September 2026, Chery Auto ranked first in the Middle East with exports of 115,786 units, up 4.5% YoY. BYD Auto followed in second place with 91,383 units, an increase of 11.4%. Both automakers recorded substantially higher export volumes than the other companies in the ranking, forming the leading tier. Geely Auto, SAIC Motor Passenger Vehicle and Great Wall Motor ranked third to fifth with 47,131, 47,106 and 46,091 units, respectively. Their export volumes were closely matched, indicating tight competition. Changan Auto ranked sixth with 38,716 units.
In terms of group-level performance, Chery Holding demonstrated a multi-brand export strategy in the Middle East. Chery Auto ranked first with 115,786 units, while Southeast Auto and Karry Auto also entered the top 10. Combined exports from the three companies reached 169,356 units, exceeding the combined total of BYD Auto and Geely Auto. Outside the Chery group, BYD was the other major exporter, ranking second with 91,383 units. By comparison, Geely, SAIC, Great Wall and Changan recorded export volumes ranging from 38,000 to 47,000 units, placing them in a closely contested middle tier.
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