In April 2026, Chery exported 177,600 vehicles setting a new monthly record, while BYD overseas sales exceeded 130,000 units for the first time with 70.9% year-over-year growth. Both brands target 1.5 million overseas sales in 2026.
Latest 2026 data shows Chinese brand passenger vehicles now hold 40% market share in Russia, making China the largest brand camp in the country. This means 4 out of every 10 new cars sold are Chinese. Chery, Haval, Geely and Changan have established deep roots through KD assembly and localized operations, while Japanese and Korean brands continue to retreat. For Central Asian and Russian buyers, the choice space, after-sales network and product iteration speed of Chinese cars have fundamentally changed.
Xiaomi Group's Q1 2026 financial report shows its auto business achieved an average selling price of 235,000 yuan with quarterly deliveries of 81,000 units. CFO Alain Lam addressed losses, citing massive upfront investments and not-yet-realized scale effects. Auto business gross margin reached 5.4%, improving from the previous year. Cumulative R&D investment exceeds 12 billion yuan, with Beijing factory capacity ramping toward an annual target of 300,000 units.
In May 2026, China's NEV passenger vehicle retail sales are expected to reach 950,000 units, with penetration surpassing 62.5% for the first time. PHEV sales grew over 35% year-over-year, while battery pack costs continue to decline. For Central Asian and Russian buyers, China's NEV supply chain scale advantage is translating into tangible procurement benefits.
China's auto export landscape is undergoing deep restructuring in 2026. The Russian market has visibly declined due to scrappage tax hikes and tariff barriers, while Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America are accelerating to fill the gap. Export product mix is shifting from low-end ICE to premium NEV, with local production ratio surpassing 35%. This article maps four major shifts for overseas buyers.
In May 2026, the Trump administration continued escalating tariffs, imposing punitive rates up to 45% on Chinese auto parts. Yet this protectionist measure produced an unexpected consequence—European and emerging markets accelerated their embrace of Chinese automakers to fill supply gaps created by the closed US market. In Q1 2026, China's total auto exports reached 1.853 million units, up 23.7% year-on-year, with exports to the US dropping from 18% of the total in 2024 to just 4.2%,
In Q1 2026, China's new energy vehicle exports reached 954,000 units, up 31.5% year-on-year, accounting for 51.5% of total auto exports—the first time NEVs crossed the 50% threshold. More notably, the China-led ChaoJi fast-charging protocol has been adopted as a national or industry standard by 17 countries, covering Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Russia. This signals a strategic upgrade from pure product export to synchronized technology and standard output.
In April 2025, Russia's new vehicle sales grew 15.1% year-on-year, continuing a steady recovery trend. Chinese brands now command over 50% of the market share as their operating models transition from pure CBU exports to localized KD assembly. This report analyzes the drivers behind the market recovery and offers practical advice on localization and payment settlements for exporters.
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