Chery becomes first Chinese carmarker to reach 5 million exports milestone

Chery, the Chinese carmaker known for its global ambitions, has become the first in China to export more than five million vehicles.

The record comes just weeks before its dramatic rise in the 2025 Fortune Global 500 list.

With strong export growth and expanding international reach, the company looks poised to become a key player in the global auto industry.

The milestone is not just a mere number, as it reflects two decades of strategic expansion overseas.

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The Chinese carmaker’s first export order was 10 cars

Chery’s export journey began in 2001, the same year China joined the World Trade Organization.

Back then, the country exported just 26,000 vehicles in total.

At a car show that year, Chery showcased its first sedan, the ‘FULWIN’, which caught the attention of Middle Eastern buyers.

After a quick discussion involving Chery’s Chairman, the company shipped its first 10 cars overseas, setting the stage for bulk Chinese auto exports.

Fast forward more than two decades, and the company’s exports has exploded.

The Chinese carmaker exported 1.14 million vehicles in 2024 alone, which translates to about one every 27 seconds.

In the first half of 2025, exports hit 550,000, making up 44 percent of total sales.

In Europe, it sold over 30,000 vehicles in six months, which is a nearly elevenfold year-on-year jump.

The new-found craze for Chinese cars in Europe can’t be underestimated.

Two Chinese car brands recently dethroned Tesla as the best selling EV maker in the UK, despite only entering the market in 2023.

So who owns these two brands? Chery.

The Chinese carmaker has now been China’s top passenger car exporter for 22 years straight.

This is a pretty big deal, considering they have giants like BYD as their competitors, who are shipping thousands of cars at once on vehicle carriers to Europe.

Chery produces extremely affordable cars

Why are Chery’s cars so popular?

Well, it’s mostly because they are really cheap.

The Chery QQ Domi, which is an ultra-compact micro EV, starts at about $8,300 in China.

You might not expect much with this low price tag, but the car actually comes with decent range (up to 251 miles), and features like leather seats and a 10-inch touchscreen.

This is the company’s answer to the BYD Dolphin, another $8,000 car that has US automakers worried.

But if you aren’t interested in a tiny compact, that’s not all they have to offer.

The iCar V23, which is not produced by Apple, but another brand under Chery, is an SUV with quite a bit more space.

It starts at about $15,000, and tops out at $20,500, which is still extremely affordable for an SUV.

While Chery probably won’t be the next Porsche or Ferrari anytime soon, the company has found its stride as a producer of affordable cars, and the numbers just prove how successful they are.

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