Exports from China to Europe have surpassed exports from Europe to China
- 说明
Exports from China to Europe have surpassed exports from Europe to China
- Chinese car exports to the European Union have surpassed European car exports to China. This trend is evident in 2025, as EU car exports to China fell by 34% to €16 billion, compared to €24.2 billion in 2024, while Chinese car exports to the EU rose by 8% to €22 billion, up from €20.4 billion. Consequently, the EU recorded a trade deficit of €6 billion in 2025, compared to a surplus of €3.8 billion in 2024.
- But in fact, in terms of volume, Chinese car imports to the European Union surpassed European car exports to China as early as 2024 , reaching 455,000 units that year (compared to 350,000 in 2023), while the EU exported only 300,000 to China. By 2025, China had exported 620,000 cars to the EU.
- This distortion between value and volume is due to the fact that cars exported from China to the EU represent less in value than cars exported from the EU to China at the same volume, given that Chinese cars exported to Europe are mid-range and mid-priced while cars exported from the EU to China (often German) are high-end and high-priced (Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati).
- It should be noted that of the 620,000 cars exported from China to the EU in 2025, 116,000 will be European or American brands (compared to 182,000 in 2024) and 504,000 will be Chinese brands (compared to 273,000 in 2024). The number of European or American cars exported from China to the EU is trending downward.
Chery, BYD, SAIC and Geely remain the largest Chinese car exporters in 2025
- 说明
Chery, BYD, SAIC and Geely remain the largest Chinese car exporters in 2025
- Passenger car production in China reached 30,269,903 units in 2025, compared to 27,476,886 in 2024, representing a 10.2% increase. Global deliveries reached 30,103,140 units in 2025, compared to 27,562,989 in 2024, a 9.2% increase. Consequently, 166,763 units were added to inventory in 2025, while 86,103 units were removed from inventory in 2024, resulting in a net increase of 80,660 units over the two-year period.
- Exports from China amounted to 6,037,959 units in 2025 compared to 4,955,134 in 2024, thus increasing by more than one million units year on year (+21.9%).
- Local registrations thus totaled 24,065,181 units in 2025, excluding imports, compared to 22,607,855 in 2024, representing a 6.4% increase. This figure clearly reflects the trend in the Chinese market, where imports now account for only a tiny fraction of total sales. Trade tensions and Chinese industrial policies have strengthened local production, gradually reducing imported volumes. This means that the share of automobiles in total imports has decreased significantly compared to previous years.
- Of the 6,037,959 cars exported from China in 2025, four Chinese exporters stand out from their competitors : Chery (1.3 million cars exported in 2025), BYD (1 million units exported), SAIC (0.9 million units exported) and Geely (0.6 million units exported) accounted for 3.8 million units exported, or two-thirds of Chinese exports.
The European light utility vehicle market declined by 8.9% in 2025
- 说明
The European light utility vehicle market declined by 8.9% in 2025
- After growing by 6.9% in 2024, the European market (30 countries: EU + UK + Switzerland + Norway) for light utility vehicles (LUVs) plunged by 8.9% in 2025, falling to 1,823,407 units compared to 2,002,023 in 2024 and 1,872,519 in 2023. The uncertain economic climate, coupled with weak growth, is causing some professionals and businesses to postpone their LUV purchases. Incentives from the European Commission to encourage the conversion of LUV fleets from diesel to electric may also be hindering some purchases.
- This moves us away from the figures reached in 2018 and 2019 (which exceeded two million annual sales) and even further from the figures reached in 2007, the year which holds the record for LUV sales in Europe (2,299,000 units).
- The biggest markets for this category of vehicle remain France (358,299 units; -5.6%), the United Kingdom (315,846 units; -10.8%), Germany (265,801 units; -5.4%), Italy (188,373 units; -5.1%), and Spain (185,559 units; +11.7%), all of which saw declines except for Spain. France and the United Kingdom still lead the way due to strong demand for small, tax-exempt sedans classified as light utility vehicles.
- In terms of powertrains, diesel remains largely dominant, but its influence is declining year after year, as it represented 81% of LUV sales in 2025 (compared to 85% in 2024). Battery electric vehicles represent 12% of LUV sales in 2025 (compared to 10% in 2024), but the European Commission's targets recommended doubling that figure.
Production by Chinese carmakers increased by 17% in 2025
- 说明
Production by Chinese carmakers increased by 17% in 2025
Thermal vehicles sales reached 63 million units worldwide in 2025
- 说明
Thermal vehicles sales reached 63 million units worldwide in 2025
- Of the estimated 87.7 million light vehicles sold worldwide in 2025, 63 million wereinternal combustion engine (ICE) or mild hybrid (MHEV) vehicles, and 24.7 million were equipped with alternative powertrain (NEV = BEV + PHEV + F-HEV). Among these 24.7 million alternative powertrain vehicles, 12.30 million were BEVs (battery electric vehicles), 6.86 million PHEVs (plug-in hybrid vehicles), and 5.43 million F-HEVs (non-plug-in hybrid vehicles).
- It is in China that sales of internal combustion engine vehicles have fallen the most in recent years, from 95% of the market in 2019 to 60% at the end of 2024 and 40% at the end of 2025. It is the only one of the four major global markets (China, USA, Europe, Japan) where the majority of light vehicles sold at the end of 2025 are powered by alternative fuels, and this situation seems to anticipate the one expected to be observed in 2026.
- Europe (30 countries = EU + United Kingdom + Switzerland + Norway) is the second major market to position itself as one of the most receptive to the development of sales of light vehicles with alternative powertrains, since its sales of internal combustion engine vehicles fell from 90% in 2019 to 70% in 2024 and 65% in 2025. At the end of 2025, it even approached 55%.
- Japan is less receptive, with a 65% market share in thermal energy in 2025 compared to 75% in 2019. The US is even less receptive, with 80% market share in thermal energy in 2025 compared to 95% in 2019.