HONG KONG — Global exports of Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) reached a record $9.4 billion in April 2026, according to an analysis by the think tank Ember of Chinese customs data. In May, China exported approximately 435,000 passenger EVs and plug-in hybrids, more than double the volume from a year earlier, according to the Chinese Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

Rising demand in Africa and Southeast Asia contributed to this growth. Africa imported around 44,000 Chinese EVs in 2025, marking a 130% increase from 2024, according to Chinese Commerce Ministry data. Geely Auto CEO Jerry Gan stated, "In the next five years, we will accelerate (our) overseas expansion."

Expanding charging infrastructure supports the adoption of EVs in these regions. Public fast chargers in Malaysia increased by more than 70% in 2025, according to the IEA. Indonesia has more than 4,500 public charging stations established by the state-owned power utility PLN, according to the IEA. Thailand has around 4,600 public charging locations for its more than 424,000 battery EVs and plug-in hybrids, according to the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand.

In Africa, there are approximately 2,000 public EV charging stations, with South Africa accounting for the largest share. Ethiopia had around a dozen charging stations as of mid-2025, but the Ethiopian government estimates a need for more than 1,170. Currently, 40 charging stations are under construction in Addis Ababa, according to the state electricity utility. State-controlled utility Kenya Power plans to construct 44 charging stations within the next year.

Paul Gong, Head of China Automotive Industry Research at UBS Bank, indicated that government support for infrastructure could help accelerate adoption. "At that stage, government support for infrastructure could help accelerate adoption," Gong said. Chris Liu from the Technology Research and Advisory Group Omdia stated that while affordability can accelerate the shift in developing markets, "In developing markets, affordability can accelerate the shift, but the pace of adoption will still depend heavily on infrastructure, power reliability and use case." One in four new cars sold worldwide last year were electric, according to the IEA, and global electric car sales are expected to reach 23 million in 2026, making up nearly 30% of all cars sold globally.