As 2026 dawned, China’s automobile export sector sustained its robust growth trajectory. According to data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers on February 11, automobile exports soared to 681,000 units in January, marking a year-on-year surge of 44.9%. Specifically, passenger vehicle exports reached 589,000 units, up by 48.9% compared to the same period last year, while commercial vehicle exports stood at 93,000 units, reflecting a 23.6% year-on-year increase. New energy vehicles (NEVs) have emerged as the primary catalyst for this export boom, with their export volume hitting 302,000 units in January—doubling from the previous year and, for the first time, accounting for over 50% of total passenger vehicle exports. Among the automakers, five companies—Chery, BYD, Geely, SAIC, and Tesla—each exported more than 50,000 units. Chery led the pack with 119,600 units exported, while BYD witnessed a remarkable 51.47% year-on-year increase in its exports.