It looks like China’s massive EV export boom is getting so big that even Beijing thinks it’s a bit much to handle. According to a report by CBT News, China’s Ministry of Commerce will impose stricter regulations on its carmakers in 2026, which will require them to apply for export licenses before selling their EVs to global markets.
Under the new regulation, only carmakers and their respective authorised companies will be allowed to apply for an export license. This is not an entirely new ruling, as regular internal-combustion engine (ICE) cars and hybrids are already subject to similar regulations.
According to the Ministry of Commerce, the new regulation is aimed at tightening oversight of overseas sales, curbing unregulated traders, and safeguarding the global reputation of its carmakers.
Officials stated that the new rule specifically targets unauthorised exporters who have been shipping EVs to global markets without providing proper after-sales support, which leads to poor customer experiences. Furthermore, this rampant practice of unregulated exporting has also led to weakened brand credibility and intensified price competition.
Reuters previously reported that since at least 2019, local state governments have encouraged a grey market where carmakers registers new cars right off the assembly line, with these cars then shipped overseas as “used” vehicles. The practice helped boost the brands’ sales figures, while also artificially raising local GDP figures.
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China recorded a total of 31.4 million cars sold in 2024, with EVs accounting for 40% of that figure, South China Morning Post reported, citing data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).
Of those, a total of 4.96 million passenger cars were exported in 2024, making China the world’s top exporter in volume terms. This figure could double by 2030, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).
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