China’s electric vehicle (EV) exports jumped 19% year-on-year in the first five months of 2025, as the country’s broader trade momentum remained resilient, driven by strong overseas demand for equipment manufacturing products, official data showed on Monday.
According to the General Administration of Customs, equipment manufacturing exports—including EVs, ships, industrial robots and construction machinery—totaled 6.22 trillion yuan (about $858 billion), up 9.2% from a year earlier. These goods accounted for 58.3% of China’s total exports from January to May.

Leading the auto sector, Chery exported 250,800 vehicles during the period, followed by MG, owned by SAIC, with 168,700 units. Geely ranked third with 160,900 units, up 103.3% year-on-year. Of Geely’s total, 70,600 vehicles were shipped to European markets, reflecting the company’s growing overseas ambitions.
BYD came in fourth with 159,300 vehicle exports, 61% of which were pure electric vehicles. The remainder consisted of plug-in hybrids, indicating that battery-only models face relatively weaker demand abroad than in the domestic market. Haval, with 90,700 units exported, maintained a focus on traditional internal combustion vehicles, which made up more than 95% of its overseas shipments.

“Geely’s growth in exports highlights our commitment to delivering high-quality, intelligent vehicles that meet the evolving demands of international customers,” a company spokesperson said in a statement.
Among the top ten Chinese vehicle exporters, Changan was the only automaker to post a year-on-year decline, shipping 82,100 units—down 29.1%. Other brands in the top ranks included Roewe (48,700 units), Jetour (41,500), GAC’s Trumpchi (30,800 units, up 253.04%), and newcomer JAC (27,200 units).
China’s broader foreign trade totaled 17.94 trillion yuan ($2.47 trillion) in the first five months of the year, a 2.5% year-on-year increase. In May alone, exports rose 6.3% despite fewer working days compared to the same month last year.

Exports to key markets also rose, with outbound shipments to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) up 16.9%, to the European Union up 13.7%, and to Africa up 35.3%. Trade with African nations reached a record 963.2 billion yuan ($133 billion) for the five-month period.
Foreign-invested enterprises continued to play a key role in China’s trade structure, contributing 5.21 trillion yuan ($719 billion), or 29% of the national total. The number of such companies involved in trade rose above 73,000, the highest in five years.
The central provinces reported faster growth than coastal regions, with trade volumes up 11.1% year-on-year and exports from the region rising 16.9%, underscoring the growing role of inland manufacturing hubs.
