- Chinese carmakers who have further increased their market share in China (62.5% market share for passenger cars in the first half of 2024 compared to 60% in the first quarter of 2024) are starting to take an interest in foreign markets and build there assembly plants, particularly in Europe and South America.
- As for Europe (excluding Russia), BYD (the leading Chinese automobile carmaker) has announced the construction of a factory in Hungary and another in Turkey, Chery has announced that it wants to produce vehicles in Spain (at the former Nissan site) and MG-SAIC has indicated that it is about to build an assembly plant in Spain, the Czech Republic or Hungary. If European put additional taxes on BEVs imported from China become truly effective, Chinese factories in Europe could multiply.
- As for Russia, Chinese carmakers assembled 150,000 cars there in the first half of 2024. Note: the breakdown by carmaker of this production in the first half of 2024 is not clear (differences in counting depending on the sources); we choose to show an “all brands” total on the left graph below.
- As for South America, BYD announced that it would take over the Ford plant in Camacari (Brazil) and produce vehicles there from the second half of 2024. Chery already produces vehicles in Brazil and JAC already produces vehicles in Mexico.
- As for Asia outside China, Chinese carmakers already have numerous production sites in Iran, India, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Pakistan, but still of relatively modest size.
- For its part, Geely is taking advantage of its Volvo factories to be able to acquire a global base. This carmaker thus has two factories in Europe, a factory in the United States and a factory in Malaysia, in addition to those located in China.
- In total, Chinese carmakers produced/assembled 475,000 vehicles outside China in the first half of 2024 (including 190,000 Volvos) but this volume is expected to increase sharply due to the new locations announced.
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