BYD leads global expansion; company is responsible for almost 40% of total outbound shipments
Chinese exports of new energy vehicles, so-called NEVs, increased 89.4% year-on-year to 1.76 million units in the first 9 months of 2025, with accounting for almost 40% of the total.
BYD, which produces only electric vehicles, has rapidly expanded its global presence. The company’s sales abroad soared 130%, to 705 thousand units in the same period, taking it from the 6th to the 2nd largest Chinese automobile exporter, according to data released on Tuesday (14.Oct.2025) by the Chinese Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
The boom in NEVs boosted China’s total vehicle exports to 4.95 million units in the January-September period, an increase of 14.8% year-on-year. In September alone, Chinese automakers exported 652,000 vehicles, up 21% year-on-year, including 222,000 electric vehicles – almost double the number from the previous year.
The export fever highlights a broader challenge: strong domestic competition and significant idle capacity. With factory utilization in mainland China hovering just above 50% – well below the global average of more than 70% – automakers have increasingly turned to foreign markets to alleviate domestic excess capacity. However, with trade tensions rising, many are turning to overseas production to ensure sustainable growth.
While BYD dominated NEV exports, it maintained its position as China’s largest auto exporter across all vehicle categories. It exported 936 thousand vehicles in the first 9 months, an increase of 12.9%, representing 18.9% of China’s total car exports.
In September, Chery exported 141 thousand vehicles. SAIC Motor Corp. Ltd. ranked 2nd with 91,000 units, followed by BYD with 71,000.
As Chinese automakers expand globally, Beijing is taking steps to curb uncoordinated competition that could damage the industry’s reputation. A foreign executive in the automotive sector had already warned that international markets are sensitive to a possible race for the lowest price.
In a joint statement on September 26, 4 government agencies – including the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology – announced that China will launch an export licensing system for all-electric passenger cars from January 1, 2026. To qualify, automakers must appear on a ministry-approved list, have valid national product certifications, and demonstrate after-sales service capabilities in their target markets.
Companies that do not have service networks abroad will be prevented from exporting on their own or from authorizing exports.
Sun Xiaohong, secretary-general of a China Chamber of Commerce committee on Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products, said electric passenger cars accounted for 28.1% of China’s automotive exports in the first 8 months of 2025. The lack of licensing, she said, creates a regulatory gap that puts both the development of the industry and the rights of consumers abroad at risk.
“In the longer term, vehicle exports will face increasing trade barriers, and current levels of growth are unlikely to be sustained”said an automotive sector analyst. He estimates that Chinese automakers will increase production abroad in the coming years to overcome these obstacles.
BYD is already building factories in Hungary, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Brazil, Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia. Units in Thailand, Uzbekistan and operating.
As more overseas factories come into operation, the analyst said, the volume of vehicle exports from mainland China could decline. “To resolve domestic idle capacity, the key is to stimulate domestic demand and facilitate the orderly consolidation of the industry”, these.
This report was originally in English by Caixin Global on October 16, 2025. It was translated and republished by Poder360 under mutual content sharing agreement.
