China's exports of new-energy vehicles (NEVs) surged 89.4 per cent year-on-year to 1.76 million units in the first nine months of 2025, with BYD Co. Ltd. accounting for nearly 40 per cent of total outbound shipments, reported Caixin.

BYD, which manufactures only NEVs, saw its overseas sales climb 130 per cent to 705,000 units over the same period. The growth lifted it from sixth to second place among Chinese auto exporters, according to data released Tuesday by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

The NEV boom helped push China's total vehicle exports to 4.95 million units between January and September, marking a 14.8 per cent increase from the previous year. In September alone, Chinese automakers shipped 652,000 vehicles abroad, up 21 per cent year-on-year, including 222,000 NEVs-almost double the figure from a year earlier.

The export surge highlights mounting pressure at home, where domestic competition and overcapacity have intensified. Factory utilisation on the Chinese mainland remains slightly above 50 per cent, well below the global average of over 70 per cent.

To ease excess capacity, automakers are increasingly targeting overseas markets. However, as trade tensions rise, many are shifting toward offshore manufacturing to secure long-term growth.