Gasgoo Munich-Speaking at the 2026 China Auto Forum on July 22, SAIC Motor President Jia Jianxu outlined the next phase of China's global automotive expansion. Drawing on the company's own experience, he dissected the shifting dynamics and future roadmap for the industry's international push.
Jia noted that the sector is moving beyond simple product exports to a coordinated push across the entire industrial chain. The focus, he argued, is shifting from trade-based exports to deep, localized integration across the full value chain.
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Data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers shows exports hit 5.096 million units in the first half — a 65.3% surge that breached the 5 million mark for the first time. By value, overseas shipments climbed 54% to $91.8 billion. Projections suggest China's auto exports could reach 10 million units by 2026, positioning the country to become the first to shatter the 10 million annual export barrier.
For Jia, this signals the industry's formal entry into an era of high-quality globalization.
The expansion model is evolving from product shipment to full-chain coordination, Jia argued. While overseas markets once labeled Chinese vehicles as merely "cost-effective," average export prices and the share of new-energy models are now climbing. In premium markets like Europe, the Middle East, and Australia-New Zealand, recognition for Chinese new-energy vehicles has surged.
No longer relying on price wars to gain ground, Chinese automakers are now going toe-to-toe with top international brands using proprietary technology — from core electric systems and smart cockpits to advanced autonomous driving. They are exporting not just cars, but a full suite of manufacturing standards and smart mobility solutions.
Addressing the shift in strategy, Jia offered a sharp distinction: the industry must move from "going global" to "going deep." "You have to truly enter a country to cultivate its market," he said. "The roots need to go deep."
Jia stressed the critical importance of compliance in local operations, offering a vivid analogy: "When you are a guest in someone's home, you follow the host's rules. If you enter their house and ignore those rules, you will eventually be asked to leave." He urged Chinese automakers to prioritize compliance as the fundamental prerequisite for long-term survival overseas.
The core of high-quality globalization, according to Jia, is localized operations. Relying solely on finished-vehicle exports leaves companies vulnerable to tariffs, trade barriers, and logistics costs. A consensus has formed around a "domestic R&D, localized manufacturing, localized supply chain" model. Domestic automakers are establishing overseas plants, regional R&D centers, and parts parks — bringing the entire industrial chain, from batteries to chassis and electronics, abroad to achieve complementary growth and mutual benefit.
Standing at the intersection of globalization and intelligence, China's auto industry faces a historic opportunity. Only by committing to deep localization, compliant operations, and technological innovation can it secure long-term growth during this century-defining transformation.
