China Surpasses Japan as Top Exporter in 2023, Toyota Forced to Accelerate Electrification

China first surpassed Japan as the world's largest auto exporter in 2023. In the first four months of 2026, Chinese brands sold 366,000 units in Europe with a 7.8% market share. Toyota's China strategy is evolving from the 1.0 introduction era, through the 2.0 expansion era, into the 3.0 electrification counterattack era. Global automotive competition is undergoing structural restructuring.