- China will enforce EV export controls beginning January 1, 2026.
- The move targets price wars and promotes healthy EV trade growth.
- Mandatory customs inspections will apply under the new system.
Overseas buyers of Chinese electric cars may soon see tighter oversight of how these vehicles reach foreign markets. On Friday, Beijing confirmed it will introduce export controls on pure electric passenger cars, a move said to be driven by concerns at home over intense price competition and by global complaints abroad about a surge of cheap cars.
The government also wants stricter rules to guarantee proper after-sales support, meaning exporters will face greater scrutiny in the coming months and years.
The new licensing rules are scheduled to begin on January 1, 2026. From that date, the Commerce Ministry has confirmed that automakers and other authorized companies will need to apply for export licenses, much like the system already in place for hybrid and combustion-powered vehicles built in China and sold abroad. Officials are said to have grown increasingly frustrated with unauthorized exports sending cars overseas without the necessary after-sales support.
As reported by CBT News, poor service and missing support networks can leave customers stranded and undermine a brand’s reputation. The situation has also intensified price battles in several foreign markets, creating instability for local manufacturers.
According to the director of policy research at the China Automotive Technology Research Center Wu Songquan, it’s important for Chinese car brands to follow the lead of legacy carmakers and to standardize export processes and boost quality. It’s hoped this will build more long-term trust in vehicles exported from China elsewhere.
Exporting Powerhouse
The timing of these new measures is no accident. The move comes shortly after China officially established itself as the world’s largest car exporter, even surpassing Japan. And its growth shows no signs of stopping, as noted by the South China Morning Post.
The secretary general of the China Passenger Car Association, Cui Dongshu, believes that within five years the country could be exporting as many as 10 million vehicles to overseas markets annually. In China itself, local brands could be selling 30 million vehicles per year thanks to the nation’s huge population.
Massive Room To Grow
“There is still vast potential for market expansion in China’s less developed regions, such as mid-western districts and rural areas, where car ownership levels could gradually surpass those in metropolises like Beijing and Shanghai,” Cui noted.
For perspective, China currently has about one car per 1,000 people, a figure that underscores just how much space remains for growth. The contrast is stark when compared with Europe, where in 2020 there were 641 vehicles per 1,000 people, or the United States, where the number has been as high as 860.
