ECG — 2025-05-28
News from ECG
The export data for the first quarter of 2025 shows that a total of 1.4 million new vehicles were exported from China to global markets, marking an annual increase of 7.3% as per data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
Of the total, internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles account for 68.9% with 978,000 units exported, while new energy vehicles (NEVs) which include battery electric vehicles (EVs) and plug in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) hit 441,000 units, accounting for 31% of total exports in the quarter. Of this, 66% (290,000 units) were EVs while 16.7% or 152,000 units were PHEVs.
In the first quarter of 2025, majority or 82.9%, of the total volume exported from China was passenger cars accounting for 1.17 million units.
The top 10 exporter OEMs were led by Chery with export volume of 254,000 followed by BYD with 214,000, SAIC with 194,000, Changan with 160,000 and Geely with 108,000. The rest saw volume below the 100,000 unit mark for the quarter.
While Chery has seen its export volume stable, up 0.4% this quarter compared to Q1 2024 when its exports were 253,000 units. It is BYD who has witnessed a staggering 116% jump in Q1 exports, up from just 99,000 units exported in the same period a year ago. Geely meanwhile has seen a 2.14% jump in volumes from the 108,000 exported in Q1 2024, while BAIC has seen a solid 34.04% jump this quarter compared to Q1 2024.
Meanwhile SAIC has seen a decline of 5.83% y/y, while Changan has seen a 9.38% drop, JAC a 8.62% decline compared to Q1 2024.
But which markets are the main sales markets?
The top market for new vehicles exported from China continues to be Russia, with sales in the first quarter hitting 156,509 units as per data from the China Automobile Dealers Association. This marks a decline of 31% compared to the volume sold in Q1 2024. The UK is the second largest global market for sales of vehicles from China, with 42,543 units up 59%. Brazil is third with sales of 41,083 in the quarter.
Europe Focus
The UK is the top sales market in Europe, followed by Italy with sales of 28,162 units in the quarter marking an 80% increase! Spain is third, with sales of 22,547 units up 173%!
But what about the automakers? Which are the players gaining the most traction in Europe? In the UK its SAIC with volume sales of 26,508 units in Q1, with BYD following with 9,271 and Chery with 6,429. Meanwhile in Italy its SAIC followed by Chery. And in Spain its once again SAIC followed by Chery and then BYD.
Imports to EU
In Part 2 of the report we look closely at the volumes imported into the EU. For this part we use data from Eurostat and Destatis Destatisches Bundesamt.
In the first quarter of 2025, imports of passenger cars from China into the EU 27 has increased by 27.12% to hit 247,107 units.
Belgium continues to be the top destination for direct shipments from China, with imports in the quarter at 71,590 units up 3.38%. Spain has seen a 44.46% jump in imports in the quarter with volume reaching 46,258 units in Q1 2025. Italy follows with a 40.41% jump in imports to 35,472 units of passenger cars. The Netherlands follows with a 6.67% increase to 18,191 units imported, while Poland comes in fifth with volume imported of 15,258 units up 189.25%.
Majority of volume enters the EU via sea ports, but the increase in use of rail has resulted in an increase in imports using land transport into certain markets in the EU from China.
ECG Members can access the full report here.