KAMA Releases Report on Global Expansion Trends of Chinese Automakers
Chinese electric vehicle companies surpassed a 20% share in the global market last year, leveraging strong sales in emerging markets. With remarkable growth in regions such as Russia, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, there are calls for the development of localized strategies to respond to this trend.
According to the "Trends in Global Expansion of Chinese Automakers" report released by the Korea Automobile & Mobility Association (KAMA) on November 26, 2025, the global market share of Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers reached 22% in 2024.
By region, Chinese brands accounted for 60.4% of the Russian market in 2024. After the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, global automakers withdrew from Russia, and Chinese companies filled the gap, turning Russia into the largest single export market for Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers.
In the Latin American electric vehicle market, Chinese brands have also shown a clear dominance based on recent data. As of the third quarter of 2025, Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers held 88.2% of the Latin American electric vehicle (BEV and PHEV) market.
Regional Electric Vehicle (BEV+PHEV) Market Share in China (Unit: %) ※ "Chinese brand" refers to Chinese brands, and "Chinese-made" refers to production in China (Source: KAMA)
As a result, Chinese companies such as BYD and Great Wall Motors are making aggressive investments, including securing large-scale production facilities in Brazil with an annual capacity of 300,000 units. The opening of Chancay Port in Peru and the implementation of the China-Ecuador Free Trade Agreement are expected to improve logistics and customs environments in the region, further enhancing supply chain efficiency.
Chinese companies are also expanding their influence in the Southeast Asian market, which has traditionally been dominated by Japanese brands. As of the third quarter of this year, Chinese brands have focused on launching affordable electric vehicle models compared to internal combustion engine vehicles, capturing 93.1% of the market in Thailand and 75.8% in Indonesia.
Chinese-made electric vehicles are also increasing their presence in advanced European markets, not just in emerging economies. Despite high tariffs imposed on Chinese-made electric vehicles, their market share is growing, particularly for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).
From January to September 2025, Chinese brands accounted for 16.6% of the electric vehicle (BEV and PHEV) market in 32 European countries (EU, EFTA, and UK). When including all vehicles manufactured in China, the market share rose to 17.9%.
KAMA stated, "As Chinese companies are rapidly expanding sales in emerging markets where electrification is progressing quickly, domestic companies need to develop strategies to strengthen their local competitiveness. To diversify export markets and maintain domestic production bases, it is necessary to expand incentives."
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