China exported 1.108 million vehicles including chassis in October 2026 and 9.736 million in January-October, up 49.6% year on year and already above the 8.32 million exported in all of 2025, according to customs data.
The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) uses a different measure: vehicle exports reached 1.066 million units in October, up 60.2% year on year and above one million for a fifth consecutive month, with January-October exports at 9.271 million units, up 65.1%. CAAM expects full-year vehicle exports to exceed 11 million units.
The export boom contrasts with a correction at home. CAAM expects domestic passenger car sales to fall below 19 million units this year, the first time since 2014, while total vehicle sales including commercial vehicles fell 9.2% year on year in October, a steeper drop than September's 8.4%.