MORE than three-million vehicles were exported from China in 2022, a rise of 54 per cent on the previous year, with the UK and Belgium being the top global destinations.

Data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) shows that 3.092 million finished vehicles were exported from China in 2022.

Of the total volume 675,000 units were new energy vehicles (NEVs) which are defined as battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and fuel-cell vehicles (FCEV). NEV exports have risen 120.2 per cent in 2022 compared with 2021, marking a significant jump in demand for Chinese-built electric vehicles.

The CAAM states that the main global export destinations for EVs from China are the UK and Belgium. The UK is now Europe’s second biggest new-vehicle market by volume while Belgium is a distribution hub for Europe.

According to reports from Chinese State Media, a total of 181,254 NEVs have been exported to Belgium in the first 11 months of the year, while 99,812 units have been exported to the UK.

A total of 324,000 vehicles were exported in December alone, up 45.5 per cent, but down slightly from the 329,000 units exported in November.

The average export value of an automobile built and exported from China has risen to an average of $US18,900 ($A27,000) in 2022 up from $US12,900 ($A18,500) in 2018. Pure electric vehicles have seen a higher hike in prices and now average $US25,800 ($A36,900) a unit.

The Association of European Vehicle Logistics (ECG) reported that while export demand for NEVs has risen significantly, these vehicles only account for 20.8 per cent of the total vehicles exported from China.

In terms of the top destinations for Chinese vehicle exports, as per data from the ITC, in the first half of the year, the top markets globally which imported the highest total value of Chinese vehicles were Belgium, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.

In the first half of 2022, Chinese passenger vehicle exports hit a value of $US16 billion ($A23b).

ECG said that China is a growing base for international OEMs to build vehicles destined for overseas markets with models such as the Dacia Spring, BMW iX3, Tesla’s Model 3 already imported to Europe from China, while Volkswagen will begin imports of the Cupra Tavascan from 2024.

ECG said that brands such as MG, owned by SAIC, have seen export volumes rise significantly to Europe, with sales exceeding 100,000 units in 2022.

SAIC Group’s global exports which include the MG and Maxus brands, as well as vehicles made at its joint ventures, hit 1.017 million units in 2022, the company has said in a filing. This marks a 45.92 per cent increase over 2021.

In Australia, MG was up 27.1 per cent in 2022 compared with 2021 (49,582 units sold) and SAIC-owned LDV was up 7.1 per cent with 16,269 sales.

Geely Group saw exports of its Lynk & Co brand hit 14,571 units to Europe in 2022. In total Geely Auto saw exports of 198,242 units in 2022, up 72.37 per cent, the company has said in a filing.

Great Wall exports have risen 21.28 per cent in 2022 to reach 173,180 units, while Chery Automobile exports are up 70.9 per cent to over 400,000 units. Chery mainly exports to developing markets in South America, Asia and the Middle East.

In Australia, GWM was up 36.2 per cent in 2022 with 25,042 sales. Chery is expected to launch in Australia later this year.

By Neil Dowling