China’s Auto Exports in First Eight Months Surpass 2025 Total

China shipped about 7.2 million vehicles overseas in the first eight months of 2026, surpassing its total auto exports for all of 2025.

The country’s auto export engine was in overdrive in August, shipping more than 1 million vehicles for a third straight month, according to data released Thursday by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). The momentum is fueling expectations that full-year exports will hit 10 million cars.

The surging overseas shipments have become a critical lifeline for Chinese automakers navigating a domestic sales slump, though mounting trade barriers in key export destinations are accelerating a necessary shift from aggressive exporting to localized manufacturing.