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China Reports 85% Jump in Passenger Car Exports in April as Domestic Sales Fall for Sixth Straight Month
China exported around 796,000 passenger cars in April 2026, up nearly 85 percent from a year earlier, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. New energy vehicle exports reached about 420,000 units, surging more than 120 percent. Domestic sales dropped 25.5 percent to 1.3 million vehicles, marking the sixth straight month of year-on-year declines.
May 11, 7:30 AM·2m read1 source
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China’s exports of passenger cars surged in April as its carmakers push to expand in overseas markets while domestic sales continue to fall, @ABC reported. Exports of passenger cars from China jumped almost 85 percent from a year ago to around 796,000 vehicles in April 2026, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
That figure rose from the 748,000 vehicles exported in March 2026.
Among them, exports of new energy passenger vehicles, including battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, jumped more than 120 percent from the year before to about 420,000 units. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers released the passenger car export and sales data on May 11, 2026. 3 million vehicles in April 2026.
5 percent from April 2025, marking the sixth straight month of year-on-year declines in domestic passenger car sales. More than 1,450 vehicles were showcased at the Beijing auto show in April 2026 as companies displayed their latest models and technologies. Some analysts believe that domestic car sales momentum could improve later this year as more new models are rolled out.
Yichao Zhang, an automotive practice partner at consultancy AlixPartners, said more Chinese consumers will also probably start buying new cars again as they increasingly adjust to the government subsidy changes this year. China’s overall passenger car exports are estimated to rise by around 20 percent in 2026, according to estimates by AlixPartners.
Overseas, leading Chinese car brands such as BYD and Geely Auto are making inroads.
