Geely Auto raises export target to 920,000 as overseas becomes key growth driver

Geely Auto has raised its export target to 920,000 vehicles, signaling a strategic pivot toward overseas markets as the company's primary growth engine amid intensifying competition in China's domestic NEV sector.

The revised target represents nearly 120% growth compared with 2025 export figures, which stood at approximately 418,000 units. Geely said it is targeting a combined production and sales scale of one million vehicles across five key overseas markets.

Geely Auto's push into international markets comes as the Chinese NEV price war continues to compress domestic margins. The company has been expanding its footprint across Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Latin America through a mix of fully built imports and local assembly partnerships.

The automaker's overseas portfolio includes brands such as Zeekr, Polestar, Lynk & Co and Geometry, each targeting different segments in foreign markets. Geely also benefits from its stake in Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler Truck and its joint venture with Volvo, giving it access to global distribution networks and manufacturing expertise.

Industry analysts note that overseas markets offer higher profit margins than China's increasingly saturated domestic market, where BYD, Tesla and XPENG continue to drive aggressive pricing. Geely's export ambition reflects a broader trend among Chinese automakers to look beyond homegrown demand to sustain growth.

Geely Auto did not specify which five markets it considers key to achieving the one-million target, nor did it provide a timeline for reaching the export goal. The company is expected to release its full-year results in due course.