Chery Sets New Record with 177K Export Units in April

April 2026 export data reveals Chery leading with 177,600 units—a new monthly record for Chinese brands. BYD crossed 130,000 overseas units for the first time, up 70.9% YoY, with 454,000+ cumulative exports in Jan-Apr. Geely surged 245% YoY. Both Chery and BYD have set 2026 export targets at 1.5 million units.

April Export Landscape

Chery: 177,600 units, new monthly record for Chinese brands
BYD: 134,500 units, first time exceeding 130K, up 70.9% YoY
Geely: 245% YoY growth, doubling its export volume

BYD's Jan-Apr cumulative exports reached 454,000 units—nearly 60% of its full-year 2025 total. BYD raised its 2026 export target from 1.3M to 1.5M units. Chery also set its 2026 target at 1.5M units.

Two Strategies: Deep Dive vs Blitz

Chery pioneered Chinese auto exports, starting with 10 Fengyun sedans to Syria in 2001. It now operates 10+ overseas assembly plants across Southeast Asia, South America, and Russia. The Tiggo 8 produced in Brazil has become a local benchmark. Chery's approach follows a three-stage pattern: product export → plant export → technology export.

Chery's weakness is its heavy reliance on fuel vehicles. NEVs accounted for only 39.89% of its April sales, far below BYD's 100% and Geely's 58%.

BYD entered as a disruptor. Since 2022, it has aggressively built products, channels, and capacity across Europe, Southeast Asia, South America, and Central Asia. To avoid shipping bottlenecks, BYD ordered 8 roll-on/roll-off vessels in 2022, with combined annual capacity exceeding 1 million units once fully operational.

Global Map: Mexico Leads, Russia Follows

In 2025, Mexico was China's top export destination (625,200 units), followed by Russia (582,700) and UAE (571,900). Both Chery and BYD surpassed 1 million overseas units in 2025, becoming China's export dual champions.

Implications for Cross-Border Buyers

For buyers in Central Asia and Russia, the Chery-BYD rivalry signals that Chinese automakers can compete head-to-head globally. Chery's deep-dive model offers stable supply chains and mature local service networks. BYD's blitz approach brings cutting-edge technology and aggressive pricing. EX1000.COM tracks these export dynamics for international buyers.