China becomes Germany’s largest source of automobile imports for the first time

Abstract:

China has become Germany's largest source of automobile imports. More and more Chinese brand cars have entered the German market, especially in the field of new energy vehicles, showing a rapid growth trend. Data released by the German Federal Statistical Office show that

In the first seven months of 2026, Germany imported approximately 175,000 passenger cars from China, a year-on-year surge of 120.9%. China has surpassed the Czech Republic for the first time and has become the country that imports the largest number of cars to Germany.

While imports are surging, German domestic automobile exports are declining. From January to July 2026, German passenger car exports dropped to about 2 million units, a year-on-year decrease of 4%, and the export value was about 73.5 billion euros. Cumulative output from January to August fell by 4% year-on-year, and exports fell by 5%.

VDA (German Automotive Industry Association) previously predicted that

German passenger car registrations will only grow modestly by 2% to 2.9 million units in 2026, still about one-fifth below the pre-crisis level in 2019.

The added value of the automobile industry has long accounted for about one-fifth of Germany's overall industry, employing about 721,400 people, and has a clear export orientation. This set of data means that the German automobile industry is facing a structural transition of "increasing imports and falling exports."

The main force driving the increase in the market share of Chinese cars in Germany is new energy models. According to data from the Gasgoo Automotive Research Institute, from January to May 2026, China exported 65,235 new energy passenger cars to Germany, a year-on-year increase of 211.2%. Germany ranks among the top ten new energy export markets in China.

It is understood that the breakthroughs of Chinese car companies in Europe are not limited to the German single market. Data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association shows that in May 2026, the monthly new car registrations of Chinese car companies in Europe surpassed Japanese car companies for the first time.

In addition, China has long been the largest single overseas market for German cars. China will account for 38% of Audi's global deliveries in 2025. China is also the largest single market for BMW in the world.

German manufacturers' exports to China have long covered their imports from China, but now Chinese cars have become Germany's largest car importer, proving that the narrative of the automobile industry is gradually being rewritten by Chinese car companies.