On the Dash:
- China will require export licenses for EVs starting in 2026, limiting applications to automakers and authorized firms.
- The move targets unregulated traders whose exports have hurt after-sales support, brand reputation, and pricing abroad.
- EV exports from China reached 1.65 million units in 2024, nearly double 2022 levels, highlighting rapid growth.
China will require export licenses for electric vehicles starting in 2026, the Commerce Ministry announced on Friday, in a move aimed at tightening oversight of overseas sales, curbing unregulated traders, and safeguarding the global reputation of its auto brands.
Under the new rules, only automakers and their authorized companies will be allowed to apply for export licenses. Gas-powered vehicles and hybrids are already subject to similar license management.
Officials said the policy targets unauthorized exporters who have been shipping electric cars to foreign markets without after-sales support. The practice has led to poor customer experiences, weakened brand credibility, and intensified price competition abroad.
Wu Songquan, director of the policy research office at the China Automotive Technology Research Center, noted that Chinese automakers should follow the path of established international brands by standardizing their export processes and ensuring product quality, thereby building lasting trust with global customers.
Since 2019, local governments have encouraged thousands of exporters to ship new cars overseas under the guise of “used.” The practice absorbed excess domestic supply and artificially boosted local GDP figures, Reuters has reported.
Notably, China exported 1.65 million electric cars in 2024, nearly double the number shipped in 2022, underscoring the industry’s rapid global expansion and the growing need for regulatory oversight.
