China’s automobile exports maintained their upward trend in October 2025, fueled by strong international demand for new-energy vehicles (NEVs). According to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, total vehicle exports last month reached 666,000 units, representing a 2.1% increase from September and a 22.9% rise compared with October 2024. This marks the third consecutive month in which exports have exceeded 600,000 units.
Passenger cars remained the primary export segment, with 571,000 units shipped in October. This figure was up 2.1% month-on-month and 22.8% year-on-year. Commercial vehicle exports, which include trucks and buses, totaled 94,000 units, reflecting a 1.8% increase from September and a 23.5% increase compared with October 2024.
The most significant driver of export growth was the NEV sector. Last month, China exported 256,000 electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, a 15.4% increase from September and a nearly 100% jump from October 2024. Cumulative NEV exports from January through October reached 2,014,000 units, up 90.4% year-on-year. By contrast, shipments of conventional internal combustion engine vehicles declined. October exports of these vehicles were 409,000 units, down 4.8% from the previous month and 0.9% compared with the same month in 2024. Over the first ten months of the year, conventional vehicle exports totaled 3,601,000 units, a 5.1% decrease from the same period in 2024.
These figures underscore the growing role of NEVs in China’s export portfolio. Rising overseas demand for electric and hybrid models, combined with expanded domestic production capabilities, has positioned NEVs as the key engine of the country’s automotive export growth. On the home front, NEV sales accounted for more than half of all vehicle sales in October, reinforcing manufacturers’ focus on electrified transport.
The continued strength in both domestic production and international shipments highlights China’s leading position in the global electric vehicle market and signals further expansion of its NEV industry footprint around the world.
Source: CarNewsChina
