by JIA Lu
Editor's note: To provide timely and comprehensive insights into China's electric passenger vehicle exports, Jiemian Intelligence of Jiemian News and SINOIMEX launched the monthly China Electric Passenger Vehicle Export Report in March 2025. The report tracks changes in export value, volume and destination markets to support decision-making for governments, companies and investors.
China's electric passenger vehicle exports continued to accelerate in July, with outbound shipments rising 69.4% year on year to 325,000 units. Export value climbed 48.9% to US$5.87 billion, extending the strong momentum seen since the start of the year and highlighting how Chinese carmakers are deepening their presence in both advanced and emerging markets.
Data compiled by Jiemian Intelligence and SINOIMEX showed that China's EV trade remained sharply divided: import demand continued to contract, while exports delivered another month of robust growth. Leveraging advances in battery technology, intelligent features and increasingly efficient manufacturing, Chinese EV makers continued to strengthen their competitiveness in global markets.
Passenger car shipments power overall export growth
In the first seven months of 2025, China's EV trade reached US$36.58 billion, a 19% increase from a year earlier. Exports accounted for nearly all activity, rising 25.8% to US$34.56 billion as shipments reached 1.897 million units, up 48.6% year on year.
July stood out as one of the strongest months of the year. Export volume grew 15.3% from June, matching the month-on-month gain in export value. Average prices fell 12.1% year on year to US$18,066 but remained broadly stable compared with June.
Passenger cars once again dominated, accounting for almost the entire export volume. July shipments reached 323,600 units, up 69.3% year on year, as export value rose to US$5.61 billion. Despite the surge in volume, average prices continued to decline across key segments. Plug-in hybrids recorded the steepest drop at more than 18% year on year, while battery electric models fell nearly 18%. Non-plug-in hybrids slipped slightly. The trend reflects automakers' continued reliance on aggressive global pricing to gain market share, a strategy that has defined China's export push since 2024.
Bus exports show bifurcated path as pure EV models extend their lead
The bus segment delivered a markedly different performance. July exports more than doubled from a year earlier to 1,381 units, although shipments fell sharply compared with June. Export value climbed 138% year on year to US$263 million, and the average price rose to US$190,664, up 15.5%.
Pure electric buses remained the dominant type, with export volumes rising 108.6% year on year and average prices increasing by more than 17%. Hybrid buses, meanwhile, expanded from a very low base but saw average prices plunge nearly 90% as deliveries shifted toward lower-spec models.
Shanghai reclaims top spot as provincial rankings reshuffle
Provincial export rankings shifted noticeably in July. Shanghai returned to the top of the national list, recording US$7.26 billion in EV exports in the first seven months of the year, although its total declined nearly 8% year on year. Jiangsu and Shaanxi followed, both benefiting from rapid factory expansion and sustained overseas orders.
Chongqing re-entered the top ten after a period of subdued activity, while Sichuan—which had remained a strong performer through the first half—dropped out of the leading group. Growth became increasingly polarized across the country, with nine provinces reporting triple-digit increases and another nine experiencing declines.
Asia, Africa and Latin America drive expansion as emerging markets surge
China exported EVs to 166 countries and regions in July, reinforcing its expanding global footprint. Asia remained the region with the widest coverage and recorded US$2.22 billion in EV imports, up 62% year on year. Europe maintained steady growth at US$2.51 billion.
Emerging regions delivered the strongest gains. African imports rose 109% from a year earlier, while South America recorded the fastest surge, climbing 245%. Belgium remained the largest export destination for the first seven months of the year despite an 11% decline, followed by the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.
Overseas expansion with local production and supply-chain integration
Chinese carmakers intensified their overseas expansion in July, advancing plans for localised production, strengthening supply-chain cooperation and opening new trade corridors. BYD produced its first locally assembled vehicle at its Bahia plant in Brazil, marking a milestone for its Latin American strategy. Changan moved forward with plans to build a factory in Europe, aiming to reduce trade frictions and improve delivery efficiency. Geely entered the UK and Italian markets with plans to launch two new SUVs in late 2025. Deepal introduced its S07 model in Norway and outlined plans for a broader European rollout, while Avatr agreed to a distribution partnership in Egypt to accelerate its entry into Africa.
Logistics infrastructure also expanded. A roll-on/roll-off vessel operated by Abu Dhabi Ports departed Ningbo in early July carrying nearly 4,000 Chinese vehicles, inaugurating the first dedicated shipping line linking China with the Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa.
Upstream industries continued to grow their global presence. CATL began constructing a US$6-billion battery plant in Indonesia, reinforcing its regional supply-chain advantages and expanding into energy-storage systems.
From exporting cars to exporting capacity
The strong July performance illustrates how China's EV industry is transitioning from a model centred on product exports to one focused on exporting industrial capacity. Through factory construction, multi-regional rollouts, evolving logistics routes and deeper battery-supply integration, Chinese carmakers are building long-term positions in global markets. Even as price competition intensifies and trade dynamics shift, the industry is laying the foundation for a wider EV ecosystem built around local production, servicing, logistics and energy integration.
