China's automobile exports experienced robust growth in the first half of 2026, with new energy vehicles emerging as a major driving force, particularly in markets participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), industry data showed.

Workers work at the final assembly workshop of an automobile company in the new energy vehicle town of Jinhua City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Dec. 17, 2021. (File photo: Xinhua)

From January to June, China exported 1.135 million NEVs to BRI partner countries, representing a remarkable year-on-year increase of 59.4 percent, according to the latest data from the General Administration of Customs compiled by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

During the same period, the total export value of automotive products to these regions reached $83.67 billion, up 30.8 percent year-on-year. This accounted for 57.5 percent of the country's total auto product exports. In terms of volume, exports of completely built-up (CBU) vehicles to BRI countries stood at 3.381 million units, jumping 48.1 percent from a year earlier.

This automotive export boom aligns with the broader strengthening of trade ties. GAC data revealed that China's total imports and exports with BRI partner countries reached 12.97 trillion yuan in the first half of the year, growing by 14.8 percent and accounting for 50.9 percent of the nation's total foreign trade.

On a broader scale, China's total auto exports in the first half of 2026 reached 5.31 million units, surging 53 percent year-on-year. The momentum was particularly strong in June, when monthly exports surpassed the 1-million mark, reaching 1.037 million units.

NEVs continued to be the star performers in the global market, with total NEV exports in the first six months skyrocketing by 120 percent to reach 2.355 million units.

In June alone, NEV exports soared by 160 percent to 523,000 units, making up 50.4 percent of the total auto exports for the month. This milestone indicates that one out of every two vehicles exported by China in June was a new energy vehicle.

The stellar half-year performance builds upon China's solid foundation in the global automotive market. In 2025, China exported a total of 7.098 million vehicles, up 21.1 percent year-on-year, maintaining its position as the world's largest auto exporter for the third consecutive year.