China’s EV exports grow 19% in the first five months of 2025, led by Chery, MG, and Geely

China’s electric vehicle (EV) exports surged 19% year-on-year in the first five months of 2025, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs on June 9. Exports of equipment manufacturing products reached 6.22 trillion yuan (approximately 858 billion USD), a 9.2% increase from last year, accounting for 58.3% of the country’s total exports. The export momentum was led by electric vehicles, construction machinery (up 10.7%), ships (up 18.9%), and industrial robots (up 55.4%).

Chery led domestic automakers in total vehicle exports, with 250,800 units exported in the first five months. MG (owned by SAIC) followed with 168,700 units. Geely came in third with 160,900 units, marking a remarkable 103.3% year-on-year increase. Notably, 70,600 of Geely’s exports were to European markets.

BYD ranked fourth with 159,300 units exported. However, only 61.05% of these were pure electric vehicles, while the rest were plug-in hybrids—reflecting a relatively lower overseas demand for BEVs than the domestic market. Haval followed with 90,700 units, of which 95.35% were traditional fuel vehicles, and achieved an over 80% year-on-year growth.

Changan, in sixth place, exported 82,100 vehicles but saw a sharp decline of 29.1% year-on-year, making it the only top-tier Chinese automaker to experience a downturn during this period. Other brands in the top ten included Roewe (48,700 units), Jetour (41,500 units), GAC’s Trumpchi (30,800 units, up 253.04%), and JAC (27,200 units), a newcomer to the global market.

Overall, the top ten exporters fell into three tiers: four brands exported more than 150,000 units, two exported between 50,000 and 100,000 units, and the remaining four exported fewer than 50,000 units each.
On a broader scale, China’s total goods trade (imports and exports combined) for January to May stood at 17.94 trillion yuan (approx. 2.47 trillion USD), up 2.5% year-on-year. 

Exports in May alone rose 6.3% to 2.28 trillion yuan (approx. 314 billion USD) despite having two fewer working days than the same month last year.

Ref: China’s EV exports grow 19% in the first five months of 2025, led by Chery, MG, and Geely (carnewschina)