China will implement stricter regulations on electric vehicle exports starting next year, requiring automakers to obtain export permits, China’s Commerce Ministry said on Friday.
Four government departments, including the Ministry of Commerce, declared in a joint statement that starting January 1, 2026, the country will enforce export license requirements for pure electric passenger vehicles.
The ministry stated that the export licenses are meant to support the sustainable development of the new energy vehicle trade with alternative drive systems.
As per the new regulations, only automakers and their authorized affiliates will be permitted to apply for export licenses. Vehicles powered by gasoline and hybrids are already regulated under similar licensing requirements.
According to provisions outlined by the ministry, the export license controls will be implemented for passenger cars equipped solely with an electric motor and having a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), referenced under Customs Commodity code 8703801090.
The conditions for applying for export approval, along with the regulatory framework, application procedures, and license issuance process, will be implemented in accordance with a legal framework detailed in the 2012 ‘Notice on Further Standardization of the Export Sequence of Automobile and Motorcycle Products.’
Additionally, customs inspections for exported pure electric passenger vehicles will be conducted based on the currently applicable catalogue of goods subject to import and export inspection.
Officials stated that the policy is aimed at curbing unauthorized exporters who have been sending electric vehicles to international markets without providing after-sales service. This practice has resulted in negative customer experiences, diminished brand reputation, and heightened price competition overseas.
China ranks as the world’s leading car exporter, having shipped approximately 5.5 million vehicles overseas last year, with nearly 40% of them being electric vehicles.
The policy may impact not only Chinese automakers expanding their presence overseas but also foreign manufacturers who build electric vehicles in China for export to global markets.
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