Chery's Overseas Revenue Surpasses Domestic for First Time, Marking Chinese Automakers' Shift to Global Profitability

Chery Automobile recently released its first annual financial report since going public, revealing total revenue exceeding RMB 300 billion in 2025. Of this, overseas revenue reached RMB 157.419 billion, surpassing domestic market revenue of RMB 142.868 billion for the first time. Although overseas sales accounted for 49.2% of total vehicle sales, they contributed 52.4% of total revenue, highlighting stronger profitability abroad. Qi Shilong, Executive Vice President of Chery, stated that the company is shifting from simply exporting vehicles to localized operations, having established local production in countries such as Brazil, Egypt, and Spain. In Europe, Chery is focusing on premium-priced models, while in Thailand it is concentrating on new energy vehicles (NEVs) to boost per-vehicle profit margins. In 2025, Chery exported 330,000 NEVs, and its gross margin surged dramatically from 0.4% to 8.8%. Industry experts note that Chery’s performance signals a strategic shift among Chinese automakers—from prioritizing volume to prioritizing profitability—as they enter a new phase of global profit realization.