Auto exports surge; BRI mkts hottest

China's automobile exports experienced robust growth in the first half, with new energy vehicles emerging as a major driving force, particularly in markets involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, industry data showed.

From January to June, China exported 1.135 million NEVs to BRI partner countries, representing a remarkable year-on-year increase of 59.4 percent, said the General Administration of Customs, citing data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

During the same period, the total export value of autos and auto-related parts to these regions reached $83.67 billion, up 30.8 percent year-on-year. This accounted for 57.5 percent of the country's total autos and auto-related part exports. In terms of volume, exports of finished vehicles to BRI partner countries stood at 3.381 million units, jumping 48.1 percent from a year earlier.

This vehicle export boom aligns with the broader strengthening of trade ties. Customs data revealed that China's total imports and exports with BRI partner countries reached 12.97 trillion yuan ($1.92 trillion) in the first half, up 14.8 percent year-on-year and accounting for 50.9 percent of the nation's total foreign trade.

On a broader scale, China's total auto exports in the first half reached 5.31 million units, surging 53 percent year-on-year. The momentum was particularly strong in June, when monthly exports surpassed the 1-million mark, reaching 1.037 million units.

NEVs continued to be the star performers in the global market, with total exports of such vehicles in the first six months skyrocketing by 120 percent to 2.355 million units. In June alone, NEV exports soared 160 percent to 523,000 units, making up 50.4 percent of total auto exports for the month. This milestone indicates that one out of every two vehicles exported by China in June was a new energy vehicle.

The stellar half-year performance builds upon China's solid foundation in the global auto market. In 2025, China exported a total of 7.098 million vehicles, up 21.1 percent year-on-year, maintaining its position as the world's largest auto exporter for the third consecutive year.

Global automakers are actively leveraging this robust ecosystem. Grace Tao, vice-president of Tesla, said China remains one of the company's most vital markets, with its layout extending beyond sales to encompass manufacturing, research and development, supply chains, charging networks and energy-related businesses.

"The Shanghai Gigafactory is a crucial base in Tesla's global manufacturing and export system, and the Shanghai Megafactory has further extended our layout from vehicles to energy products," Tao said.

She said vehicle manufacturing resembles a relay race requiring strong team coordination, noting that the localization rate of components at the Shanghai facility now exceeds 95 percent. Tesla currently partners with over 400 Chinese tier-one suppliers, more than 60 of which have entered its global supply chain.

Tao emphasized that China's advantage lies not just in its massive scale, but in its rapid pace of change, seamless collaboration and swift implementation of innovations. The global debut of the Model Y L in the Chinese market demonstrates the increasingly important role of the local team and supply chain. She added that the Chinese market is a "must-have" for the company, featuring a resilient supply chain and continuous innovative momentum that makes it hard to find a "second China".

renqi@chinadaily.com.cn