Overview
Recently, Chang'an Automobile's Brazil factory officially started production, with Brazilian President Lula attending and praising the event, marking a milestone in Chinese automakers' deep overseas expansion and localization. Against the backdrop of global automotive industry transformation and accelerated Chinese auto exports, five major Chinese automakers—Chery, Great Wall Motors, BYD, Geely, and Chang'an—form the core echelon of China's auto exports. Each company employs different strategic layouts and product routes, fiercely competing in overseas markets. The competitive landscape involving both fuel and new energy vehicles is becoming increasingly clear. A global battle for brand, technology, and market share is now fully underway.
Sales Echelons and Export Focus
Chery Automobile firmly holds the top spot in exports, with 23 years of overseas experience. In 2025, its export volume reached 1.344 million vehicles, accounting for nearly half of its total sales. Chery's advantage lies in its deep cultivation of emerging markets, with eight overseas production bases in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, South America, and the CIS region. It mainly offers high-cost-performance fuel vehicles, leveraging mature powertrain technology and models tailored to local demand, establishing a strong presence in overseas markets. Fuel vehicle exports are overwhelmingly dominant.
BYD follows closely, with exports exceeding 1.04 million vehicles in 2025, up over 140% year-on-year, making it the fastest-growing automaker. BYD's overseas expansion relies entirely on new energy advantages, with new energy vehicles accounting for over 90% of exports. Pure electric and plug-in hybrid models sweep across Europe, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, establishing technological barriers in the global new energy track. With its Blade Battery and DM-i hybrid technology, BYD has broken into high-end markets, achieving simultaneous growth in sales and brand power.
Great Wall Motors, Geely, and Chang'an form the second echelon. Great Wall Motors exported 506,000 vehicles in 2025, focusing on SUVs and hardcore off-road vehicles, mainly targeting markets such as Russia and Europe. The Haval and Tank series have gained overseas users with their robust styling and reliable performance, and the company advances both fuel and new energy vehicles simultaneously. Geely exported 420,000 vehicles, leveraging overseas brand resources such as Volvo and Proton, following a brand synergy and asset-light export route, with deployments in Southeast Asia and European markets, offering both fuel and new energy models. Chang'an's overseas sales reached 637,000 vehicles in 2025, up 19% year-on-year, accounting for over 20% of total sales, becoming a core engine for performance growth. The start of the Brazil factory marks Chang'an's shift from product export to industrial export, covering 118 countries and regions globally, with a multi-line layout of fuel, hybrid, and pure electric vehicles.
Fuel vs New Energy Vehicles: Distinct Tracks and Clear Strengths
In the export track, fuel vehicles and new energy vehicles present completely different competitive situations, with clear advantages for each automaker.
Fuel vehicle exports remain dominated by traditional strong teams. Chery and Great Wall Motors hold dominant positions in overseas fuel vehicle markets thanks to their deep fuel vehicle technology accumulation. Chery's 1.6T and 2.0T BlueCore engines are mature, reliable, and well-suited for markets like the Middle East and South America, where fuel vehicle demand is high. With extensive overseas networks and convenient maintenance, they offer outstanding cost performance. Great Wall Motors leverages its SUV category advantage, with fuel versions of Haval and Tank models having high brand recognition overseas, especially in Russia and the Middle East, favored by consumers. Chang'an's fuel vehicles also expand steadily in Latin American and African markets thanks to stable quality and localized adaptation. The dual-fuel fuel model produced at the Brazil factory precisely matches local energy structures, filling a gap in the South American market. Overall, fuel vehicle exports thrive on mature technology, controllable costs, and complete after-sales service, making them suitable for emerging markets with weak infrastructure and insufficient new energy supporting facilities.
In new energy vehicle exports, BYD is dominant, with Chang'an, Geely, and Great Wall Motors accelerating their pursuit. BYD relies on its entire industry chain advantages, with core technologies in batteries, motors, and electronic controls self-sufficient. Pure electric models like Dolphin and ATTO 3, and plug-in hybrid models like Song PLUS have become hits in Europe and Southeast Asia, not only leading in sales but also breaking the overseas stereotype of cheap Chinese cars. Chang'an is accelerating its electrification exports through high-end new energy brands Deepal and Avatr, having entered 40 countries and regions since 2024, with the high-end route showing initial results. Geely leverages Polestar and Volvo's electrification technology to establish a foothold in the high-end new energy market in Europe. Great Wall Motors is developing hybrid and pure electric SUVs to fill its new energy gaps. Compared to fuel vehicles, new energy vehicle exports focus more on technology, brand, and supporting facilities. In regions like Europe and Southeast Asia, where new energy policies are friendly and supporting facilities are complete, growth rates far exceed those of fuel vehicles, becoming the core growth point for future exports.
Localization Is Key to Export Breakthrough
Looking at the export paths of the five major automakers, simple product export can no longer meet overseas market demands. Localization and deep industrial integration have become core paths to increasing overseas sales. Chang'an's Brazil factory is the best model.
To continuously increase overseas sales, first, deeply cultivate localized operations and abandon the pure sales mentality. For example, develop dual-fuel engines for Brazil's alcohol-fuel-based energy structure; upgrade new energy technologies for Europe's stringent environmental regulations; and optimize vehicle adaptability for Southeast Asia's hot and rainy climate. At the same time, drive local employment, improve local supply chains, resolve trade barriers, and achieve long-term roots.
Second, adhere to dual-line layouts and precisely match market demands. Emerging markets remain the main battlefield for fuel vehicles, requiring continuous optimization of fuel vehicle cost performance and reliability to consolidate existing market share. In developed markets like Europe and the United States, fully focus on new energy, build technologically leading, high-quality electric models, and enhance brand premium. Fuel vehicle strong teams like Chery and Great Wall Motors need to accelerate new energy transformation; new energy leaders like BYD can moderately deploy hybrid models to cover more market demands.
Finally, improve the global system and strengthen brand building. All five automakers need to build a global R&D, production, sales, and after-sales integrated system, like Chang'an's 'Six Countries, Ten Places' R&D layout and 'All Rivers Flow to the Sea' globalization plan, to enhance global synergy capabilities. At the same time, shake off low-price labels, establish a high-quality brand image through high-end models and technology output, and boost global user recognition.
Conclusion
Currently, Chery leads in fuel vehicles and overall export scale, BYD dominates the new energy track, and Chang'an and Geely each have their advantages. Chinese auto exports are no longer a solo effort but a collective rise. In the future, whoever can deeply localize, understand market needs, and maintain technological advantages will secure a place in the global market and become a true world-class automotive brand.