According to data from the Gasgoo Automotive Institute, China's passenger car exports continued global expansion through the first eight months of 2026, though results diverged sharply across regional markets. The United Arab Emirates ranked as China's eighth-largest passenger car export destination, taking 184,908 units from January through August 2026, a 38.3% drop compared to the same period in the prior year.
Gasgoo noted that the UAE and Mexico were the only markets among China's top ten passenger vehicle export destinations to experience year-on-year contractions. The report stated that Middle East markets entered a period of adjustment under the pressure of geopolitical tensions.
In the new energy vehicle (NEV) segment, the UAE ranked tenth globally among China's export destinations. China shipped 73,340 new energy passenger cars to the UAE between January and August 2026, representing a 5.4% increase year on year.
Across overall passenger vehicle exports, Russia ranked first globally with 619,165 units (+126.8%), followed by Brazil with 457,027 units (+152.4%), the UK with 359,688 units (+89.1%), Belgium with 315,679 units (+52.8%), and Australia with 296,501 units (+81.4%). In new energy vehicle shipments, Brazil led with 327,081 units (+163.4%), followed by Belgium with 303,829 units (+52.5%), the UK with 268,528 units, and Australia with 222,283 units (+175.2%).
Sources
- Gasgoo · 2026-10-30
