China exported 406,000 new energy vehicles in April 2026, up 111.8% year on year and 18.3% from March, according to CPCA data. BYD led all automakers with 130,042 exports, followed by Chery, Tesla China, and Geely, while NEVs made up more than half of China’s total passenger vehicle exports for the first time.
China’s new energy vehicle export market posted another strong month in April 2026, with shipments reaching 406,000 units, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). That was up 111.8% from a year earlier and 18.3% higher than in March.
BYD remained the clear leader among automakers, exporting 130,042 NEVs in the month. That gave the company a 32.0% share of China’s total NEV exports for April, far ahead of the rest of the field.
BYD, Chery and Tesla dominate the export table
Chery ranked second with 57,910 units, equal to 14.3% of the total. Tesla China followed closely in third place with 53,522 vehicles, representing 13.2% of exports.
Geely also played a major role, shipping 48,901 NEVs in April for a 12.0% share. Together, the top four exporters accounted for a large majority of China’s outbound NEV volume last month.
Below the leading group, SAIC Passenger Vehicle exported 24,262 units. Leapmotor, one of China’s newer EV brands, contributed 14,225 units, or 3.5% of the total.
Emerging EV brands add to the growth
Other names on the list included Dongfeng with 10,673 units, Changan with 9,824, SAIC-GM-Wuling with 8,561, and Xpeng with 6,006. Xpeng’s April result was described as a record monthly export volume, giving it a 1.5% share.
Further down the rankings were Spotlight, Polestar, GWM, Changan Mazda, FAW Hongqi, Smart, Volvo Asia Pacific, Beijing Automobile Works, Seres Hubei, GAC Aion and FAW Bestune. Their individual export volumes ranged from 5,571 units down to 1,383 units.
NEVs cross a key threshold in China’s passenger-vehicle exports
China exported 769,000 passenger vehicles in April, up 80.7% year on year and 11.8% from March. NEVs accounted for about 53% of that total, meaning electric and plug-in models made up more than half of the country’s passenger car exports for the first time.
That is an important milestone. It suggests that China’s export strength is no longer limited to conventional vehicles, and that electrified models are now central to the country’s auto trade growth.
Battery EVs remain the core of export demand
Within the NEV mix, battery electric vehicles remained the largest category, making up 57.2% of exports in April. Smaller BEV segments — especially A00 and A0-class compact models — were particularly strong and together accounted for more than half of BEV export volume.
The data also show that overseas sales are not driven only by finished vehicles. Some automakers relied heavily on CKD, or completely knocked down, shipments assembled in foreign markets. CKD units made up 56% of GWM’s 4,094 overseas sales in April, 27% of SAIC-GM-Wuling’s 8,561 export units, and 12% of SAIC Motor Passenger Vehicle’s overseas volume.
Why this matters
China’s export performance highlights how quickly its EV industry is expanding beyond the domestic market. Strong overseas demand can help automakers improve scale, spread development costs, and reduce dependence on competition at home.
It also shows that the global EV race is becoming increasingly shaped by Chinese manufacturers. With BYD, Chery, Geely and Tesla China all shipping large volumes, the export market is emerging as one of the clearest measures of competitiveness in the sector.
Why This Matters
This report matters because it shows that China’s EV industry is now a major export force, not just a domestic growth story. NEVs made up more than half of the country’s passenger vehicle exports in April for the first time, signaling a structural shift in what China sells abroad.
It also highlights which automakers are scaling fastest internationally. BYD’s leading position, Tesla China’s strong export presence, and the rise of newer names like Leapmotor and Xpeng are useful signals for investors, suppliers, and industry watchers tracking global EV competition.
Key Specs
- Total China NEV exports in April 2026: 406,000 units
- Year-on-year growth: 111.8%
- Month-on-month growth: 18.3%
- Total China passenger vehicle exports: 769,000 units
- Passenger vehicle export growth: 80.7% year on year; 11.8% from March
- NEVs as share of passenger vehicle exports: about 53%
- BEVs as share of NEV exports: 57.2%
- BYD exports: 130,042 units (32.0%)
- Chery exports: 57,910 units (14.3%)
- Tesla China exports: 53,522 units (13.2%)
- Geely exports: 48,901 units (12.0%)
- Leapmotor exports: 14,225 units (3.5%)
- Xpeng exports: 6,006 units (1.5%)
Source: CNEVposts
