Against the backdrop of profound shifts in the global automotive industry landscape, Chinese automakers are accelerating their global expansion at an unprecedented pace. Since December, major manufacturers including BYD, IM Motors, and XPeng have announced intensive overseas market plans: BYD entering Switzerland, IM Motors launching in Australia, and XPeng tapping into Bahrain—significantly boosting the global presence of China’s automotive industry.
As a leading player in overseas expansion, BYD’s global layout has attracted particular attention. The company recently held special launch events in Lugano and Bellinzona, Switzerland, officially announcing its entry into the Swiss market. It initially brought three models: Seal, Sea Lion 07 EV, and Song PLUS DM-i, covering both pure electric and plug-in hybrid powertrain options. To quickly penetrate the market, BYD has partnered with Automotive Suisse, a well-known local distributor in Switzerland, and plans to establish 15 sales outlets across the country by the end of 2025 to build a comprehensive sales and service network. A BYD official stated at a shareholders’ meeting that the company’s high-end brands have gained recognition from global consumers, and it is confident in further increasing overseas exports to enhance its global brand reputation.
Localized production has become a core strategy for Chinese automakers to avoid trade barriers and reduce costs. BYD’s largest overseas factory in Thailand has a planned annual production capacity of 150,000 units, and its Hungary plant is progressing steadily, which will effectively serve the European market. Chery Automobile has established a joint venture factory with Spain’s Ebro to target the Southern European market, and its Vietnam factory is scheduled to start production in 2026 with 80% of parts localized. Geely Automobile has laid out six production bases in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, aiming for 50% of its overseas sales to come from localized production by 2030. The coordinated global expansion of the industrial chain is also accelerating—CATL is building battery factories in Germany and Hungary, and NIO is deploying an energy system in Hungary, providing solid support for automakers’ overseas development. Data shows that China’s automobile exports are expected to reach 6.7 million units in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 5.8%, entering a new phase of high-quality overseas expansion despite the slowing growth rate.
