Automobile exports set a record in 2021, with 426,000 new energy vehicles exported

According to the customs statistics compiled by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, in 2021, the finished vehicle (excluding low-value electric manned vehicles, the same below) of our country was exported to 1.9754 million, up 106.4% year-on-year, the export amount was 34.356 billion dollars, up 119.6% year-on-year. Under the influence of the global epidemic, the truckload export of China continued the trend of running high in the fourth quarter of 2020, setting a new record. Among them, the export of new energy vehicles was 426,000, a sudden rise.

Among all vehicle export models, the export of passenger cars was 1,497,200, up 119.9% year on year, and the export amount was 22.333 billion US dollars, up 150.8% year on year; 478,200 commercial vehicles were exported, up 73.0% year on year, and the export value was the US $12.025 billion, up 78.4% year on year. Specifically, affected by chip shortage, surging logistics costs, and rising raw material prices, vehicle exports showed a volatile upward trend in each month of 2021. From January to June, the export climbed steadily. In June, August, and October, the export records of one month were set consecutively, which was rare in the history of the same period. Due to the supply chain shortage in July and August, production capacity fell, leading to a drop in September exports, October and November again climbed to around 200,000 units, strongly supporting the annual export doubling target; Export growth slowed in December.

Data show that the export product structure is relatively balanced at present. Passenger cars are still the main export force, accounting for 75.8% of total vehicle exports. Passenger cars with 9 seats or less were the first export model, with a total of 543,400 cars exported, up 88.4% year-on-year, accounting for 36.3% of the total passenger car exports. Cars ranked second, with 514,500 cars exported, up 88.3 percent year on year, accounting for 34.4 percent of the total passenger car exports. The above two types of models accounted for 53.6% of the total vehicle exports.

Specific to countries, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers collated statistics from the General Administration of Customs, in 2021, the top 10 countries in China's vehicle export volume are Chile, Saudi Arabia, the Russian Federation, Belgium, Australia, Mexico, Egypt, Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, and the Philippines. Compared with the previous year, Bangladesh's export growth was slightly lower, while other countries showed significant increases, notably Belgium, Chile, and the United Kingdom. In 2021, the above ten countries exported 1,059 million vehicles, accounting for 50.0% of the total vehicle exports.

In the vehicle export, China's own brand performance. Chery Group exported 269,200 vehicles in 2021, up 136.3% year on year, ranking first in the export volume of Chinese brand passenger cars for 19 consecutive years. At the same time, our own brand of new energy vehicles has already gained much overseas market recognition and constantly advancing into the European market. Since 2021, BYD, Hongqi, MG, SAIC Chase, NIO, and Xpeng have successively launched new electric models in the European market.

Under the background of steady and sustained economic recovery, China's auto exports are expected to usher in a period of rapid growth in 2022, and China's auto industry is entering a new stage of global development, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.