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.
