Compiled based on the latest data from the General Administration of Customs, international automotive associations, and authoritative industry platforms.

Overall Export Performance: Chinese Automobiles Rank First Globally for Three Consecutive Years

According to statistics from the General Administration of Customs of China, China's annual automobile export volume reached 7.098 million vehicles in 2025, securing the top global spot for the third consecutive year.

This growth momentum has carried into 2026. In the first quarter, vehicle exports exceeded 2.3 million units (with CAAM and Customs reporting slightly different scopes, ranging between 2.22 million and 2.31 million units, both reflecting robust growth). Notably, New Energy Vehicle (NEV) exports surged by over 110% year-on-year.

Shifting from purely exporting products to building localized ecosystems, Chinese automotive brands are establishing deep roots across multiple global markets. The authentic sales data from the following four regional markets clearly illustrates local consumer preferences.

I. Russian Market: Chinese Brands Capture Nearly Half the Share, Five Models Lead the Pack

In 2025, Chinese brands performed outstandingly in the Russian new car market. According to full-year sales data from the authoritative Russian analytical agency Autostat, the top five Chinese models are as follows:

No. 1: Haval Jolion – Annual sales: 65,792 vehicles
For the third consecutive year, it has become the best-selling Chinese brand in Russia. This compact SUV has established a stable reputation among Russian family users thanks to its high cost-performance ratio and rich standard configurations.

No. 2: Belgee X50 – Annual sales: 38,310 vehicles, up 24.5% year-on-year
This is a joint venture brand between Geely and Belarus, essentially a rebadged version of the Geely Binyue. Among the top ten in the overall market, it is one of the few models to achieve significant counter-trend growth, especially popular among young consumer groups.

No. 3: Geely Monjaro – Annual sales: 37,700 vehicles

Known as the Geely Xingyue L in the Chinese domestic market. As the largest and highest-positioned SUV in the top five, its upscale exterior and premium interior texture have successfully attracted users looking for a budget upgrade.

No. 4: Haval M6 – Annual sales: 36,100 vehicles
Focusing on 'large space, low price,' its body size and turbo power performance outperform competitors in the same price range, making it the first choice for many families buying a Chinese brand for the first time.

No. 5: ChangAn UNI-S – Annual sales: 30,600 vehicles, up a staggering 380% year-on-year

Renamed and refreshed from the former CS55 Plus, its sporty design and intelligent features allowed it to go viral in a short period.

Summary: Russian consumers prefer SUVs with clear requirements for space, power, and cost-effectiveness. Chinese brands' model strategies precisely meet these needs.

II. Central Asian Market: Cost-Effectiveness Priority, New Energy Models Gradually Penetrate

Taking Kazakhstan as an example, the market share of Chinese brands is rapidly increasing. According to statistics from the Kazakhstan Automobile Union (KAZ Auto Union), the market share of Chinese automobiles in the country reached 39% in 2025, compared to just single digits three years ago. The number of Chinese brands sold in Kazakhstan has now increased to 21.

Conventional Fuel Vehicles
Compact SUVs such as the MG ZS, MG HS, and Chery Tiggo series are currently the main sellers. Priced in the range of 100,000 to 200,000 RMB, they are effectively replacing the previously dominant Japanese and Korean brands.

New Energy Vehicles
Models such as the BYD Song PLUS and Han have opened showrooms in major cities like Almaty. These models have undergone adaptive adjustments for local road conditions, including increased ground clearance, reinforced suspension systems, and optimized battery temperature control technology, gradually opening up the market.

Future Layout

Zeekr’s flagship plug-in hybrid SUV, the 9X, is scheduled to officially enter overseas markets in the third quarter of 2026. Central Asia has been designated as one of the first launch regions, aiming to capture the local high-end market.

Summary: The Central Asian market is driven by cost-effectiveness as its core, and new energy vehicles are moving from tentative sales to substantive penetration.

III. Middle East Market: Japanese Brand Advantage Under Challenge, Chinese SUVs Capture Incremental Share

For a long time, the Middle Eastern automobile market has been dominated by Japanese brands. However, the landscape has been changing in the past two years, as more and more young consumers no longer view the Toyota Land Cruiser or Hilux as their only choice. Chinese brands have captured approximately 40% of the incremental share in the Middle East SUV segment.

Specific Performance

The Jetour T2 has seen a noticeable increase in popularity in the used car markets of Gulf countries like the UAE. Data shows its used car transaction volume increased by 212.2% year-on-year, attracting the attention of off-road and modification enthusiasts.

In the economy sedan segment, Geely Emgrand and ChangAn Eado PLUS attract many young white-collar workers just entering the workforce with a strategy of 'low price, high configuration.'

In the high-end market, large luxury hybrid SUVs like the Zeekr 9X are planned to enter the Middle East in the second half of 2026 to meet local consumers' preference for high performance and large size.

Note: The popularity of the Jetour T2 is mainly concentrated in the used car market, not among the top three new car sales locally. Companies can pay attention to market opportunities in both new and used car channels when selecting models.

Summary: The monopoly of Japanese brands in the Middle East is loosening, and Chinese SUVs are gaining an advantage in the incremental market with their product strength.

IV. African Market: Strong Demand for Used Cars, Single Chery Model Sweeps Top Three

The African automobile market is still primarily dominated by used car transactions. In South Africa, the most mature automobile market in Africa, the growth rate of used cars from Chinese brands is remarkable.

According to the first quarter 2026 report from the well-known South African auto trading platform AutoTrader:

In the first half of 2025, used car sales of Chinese brands increased by 89% year-on-year. Among them, BYD grew by 637%, Omoda by 99%, and Jaecoo by 168%.

In the first quarter of 2026, the top three best-selling used Chinese models in the South African market all came from the same car — the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro. The specific ranking is as follows:

1.Tiggo 4 Pro 1.5 LiT (manual version)

2.Tiggo 4 Pro 1.5 LiT (automatic version)

3.Tiggo 4 Pro 1.5T Elite Auto

One model's different configuration versions sweeping the top three fully demonstrates that this Chery compact SUV has gained high recognition in the local market. The consumer's purchasing logic is very clear: get over 80% of the configuration and usage experience at about 60% of the price of traditional brands.

Summary: The core needs of the African market are ultimate cost-effectiveness and low maintenance costs. Compact SUVs perform strongly in both the new and used car segments.

Core Needs Comparison by Market

Summary

China's automobile exports have shifted from early tentative sales to precise targeting of different market demands. The Russian market favors large-space, high-configuration SUVs; the Central Asian market focuses on cost-effectiveness and new energy penetration; the Middle East market is experiencing a transition from Japanese monopoly to Chinese brands competing for incremental share; the African market uses used cars as an entry point to open up the market with price advantages.

Understanding the real needs of consumers in each region and delivering the right models to the right markets — this is the key to China's continued expansion of automobile exports.

Data sources: General Administration of Customs of China, China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, Russian Autostat, Kazakhstan Automobile Union, South Africa AutoTrader, Yiche, and other public information. All data has been cross-verified.