Western Tariffs Won’t Dim Outlook for Chinese Automakers’ Global Expansion, Economist Says

Automakers will be selling about 20 million cars overseas around 2035, expert at institution linked to state planner says

The outlook for China’s automakers’ global expansion remains rosy despite the ongoing backlash against Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) from the European Union and the U.S., a senior economist at a government-backed institution said.

China became the world’s largest auto exporter in 2023 with shipments of 4.91 million cars, which marks a stark contrast to the period between 2013 and 2020, during which China’s car exports stagnated at around 1 million units per year, said Xu Changming of the State Information Center affiliated to the National Development and Reform Commission at an industry forum on Sunday.

That momentum is expected to continue, according to Xu, with Chinese automakers projected to sell up to 20 million cars in overseas markets around 2035. That figure includes exports and cars built in Chinese firms’ overseas facilities.