According to the General Administration of Customs of China, the number of passenger EVs exported in 2021 increased 2.6 times to 499,573 units.

Meanwhile, Germany doubled its exports to about 230,000 units, while the US fell 30% to around 110,000 units, and Japan increased 24% to 27,400 units – according to data compiled by the German Association of the Automotive Industry and the Japan External Trade Organisation.

China accounts for 60% of global EV production and is emerging as the world’s factory for EVs having already secured the same position in digital product manufacturing.

Exports to the EU grew in the wake of it announcing a policy to ban the sale of new hybrid and gasoline-powered vehicles in 2035.

China’s EV exports to Europe rose fivefold to 230,000 units, with the region absorbing half of China’s total EV exports. Belgium imported 87,000 units and the UK 50,000 units.

Of the almost 500,000 units exported, more than 100,000 appear to have originated from Tesla’s Shanghai plant.

China’s EV export growth has been facilitated by its intense concentration on EV manufacturing. For automotive batteries, Chinese makers are manufacturing locally and procuring raw materials for cathodes domestically.

According to Nikkei research based on data from LMC Automotive, a British research company, and other sources, global EV production in 2021 was 3.99 million units. China accounted for 57.4% of the total, Europe and the US for 22% and 12%, respectively, while Japan accounted for just 0.9%.