Chery’s 2 Million Sales Breakthrough: Why This Export Juggernaut is a Tier 1 Supplier’s Top Priority

As an automotive market analyst stationed here in Shanghai, I’ve witnessed the brutal pace of China’s auto industry firsthand. But the Q3 2025 results from Chery Group are more than just another impressive data point; they are a tectonic shift. The company has officially surpassed 2 million cumulative vehicle sales for the year, a milestone that solidifies its position not just as a domestic leader, but as a top-priority global client for any serious Tier 1 supplier.

This isn’t just about volume. This is about a proven, multi-faceted strategy that demonstrates sustainable global demand. It’s why industry leaders like LG Energy Solution have already secured deals to supply batteries for Chery’s export models heading to Europe. For those of us in the supply chain, Chery’s latest performance report isn’t just news—it’s a roadmap to future growth. Let’s break down the data and analyze what it truly means.

The Numbers Don’t Lie: Deconstructing Chery’s Q3 Performance

In September alone, Chery sold 280,469 vehicles, a solid 14.7% year-over-year increase. But the real story lies in the quality and direction of this growth.

• The New Energy Surge is Real: In the first three quarters of 2025, Chery sold a staggering 587,545 New Energy Vehicles (NEVs), marking a 77.1% increase year-over-year. This growth rate is among the highest in the industry. Critically, over 75% of the group’s new models are now NEVs, signaling a decisive and rapid pivot to future-proof technologies. This isn’t a company hedging its bets; it’s a company leading the charge. Models like the Fengyun A9L, which became the monthly sales champion in its segment right after its July launch, prove their new energy products are hitting the mark with consumers.
• Quality as a Cornerstone: This rapid expansion isn’t coming at the expense of quality. In September, the Xingjiyuan ES model received a five-star safety certification from Euro NCAP, bringing Chery’s total to 51 models with global five-star ratings—the most of any Chinese brand. This commitment to global standards is a crucial trust signal for both consumers and supply partners.

The Real Story for Global Suppliers: The Export Juggernaut

For a Tier 1 supplier, domestic success is interesting, but global reach is what guarantees long-term, high-volume contracts. This is where Chery’s performance becomes impossible to ignore. For 22 consecutive years, Chery has been China’s top passenger car exporter, but 2025 is on another level.

• Unprecedented Export Volume: In the first nine months of the year, Chery exported 936,428 vehicles—an average of one car every 25 seconds. The company has become the first Chinese brand to surpass 5 million cumulative exports.
• Conquering Europe: The most significant breakthrough is their success in the highly regulated European market. From January to September, Chery sold 145,000 units in Europe, more than doubling its performance from the previous year. By successfully launching models in Spain, Italy, and the UK, Chery has proven its products can meet the world’s toughest standards, a key factor I analyzed in my previous post on how Chinese brands are using PHEVs as a ‘trojan horse‘ to enter Europe.

A Tier 1’s Strategic Analysis: Why Chery is a Top-Tier Client

From my vantage point in the supply chain, these numbers translate into three clear strategic imperatives for any global Tier 1 company:

1. Bank on Proven Global Volume: With an export run rate approaching one million units annually, Chery offers the scale and predictability that suppliers need. This isn’t speculative growth; it’s existing, accelerating demand in diverse global markets.
2. Partner on Future Technology: Chery’s aggressive 77.1% growth in NEVs opens immense opportunities for suppliers in batteries, electric motors, power electronics, and advanced software. Their focus on proprietary technology like the Kunpeng Super Performance Electric Hybrid C-DM system indicates a need for deep co-development partnerships, not just transactional supply relationships.
3. Leverage Their Global Footprint: Chery is moving beyond simple exports to establishing local production and supply chains in key regions. As I’ve noted when analyzing Geely’s ‘two-winged‘ strategy, this “go-global” infrastructure move provides a massive opportunity for Tier 1s to expand their own international footprint alongside a reliable, high-volume partner.

Conclusion: The Verdict is In

Chery’s 3-quarter performance in 2025 is more than just an impressive financial report. It is a clear signal that the company has successfully transitioned from a Chinese domestic champion to a formidable global automotive player. Their dual-engine strategy of rapid new energy adoption and aggressive, sophisticated global expansion is working.

For global Tier 1 suppliers, the conclusion is simple. Chery is no longer a potential partner to watch; they are an essential client to engage with. The question is no longer if you should work with Chery, but how deeply you can integrate into their rapidly expanding global ecosystem. The race is on.

Deeper Dive: Recommended Reading for Deeper Insights

For those who want to understand the broader context of global industrial strategy and the rise of new manufacturing powerhouses, I highly recommend this book.

[The New Global Road Map: Enduring Strategies for Turbulent Times]

• Why I recommend it: This book provides an excellent framework for understanding how companies like Chery are navigating geopolitical risks and diverse market demands to build a resilient global footprint. It helps explain the ‘why’ behind their strategic shift from just exporting products to exporting entire ecosystems, including production and technology.
• 👉 https://amzn.to/3VYOzet

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