Exports of Chinese-made vehicles on rise

Its vans accounted for 13.28 percent of sales of Australian light commercial vehicles in the first five months this year. In New Zealand, Maxus took a 28.4-percent share of sales in the light commercial vehicle market as the most popular brand.

Dave Hall, a courier in New Zealand, travels around 500 kilometers on each of his workdays in the Maxus eDeliver 3. "I really enjoy the quietness and refinement of my eDeliver 3 and have had no issues with its range or load capacity," Hall said.

Europe has been the first choice for the sector's startups when they go overseas. In addition to the rising acceptance of EVs there, their success in Europe can make it easier for companies to persuade customers elsewhere, analysts said.

Shanghai-based Nio opened its first overseas showroom in the center of Oslo, the Norwegian capital, last year. The company aims to sell its ES8 sport utility vehicles and ET7 sedans as part of its plans to grow globally.

This year, the carmaker plans to expand its presence to Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark. By 2025, it will have established a presence in more than 25 countries and regions worldwide, the company said.

Voyah, the NEV arm of State-owned Dongfeng Motor Corp, opened its first overseas showroom in Oslo in June, and plans to deliver its first model in the fourth quarter.

BYD, China's largest NEV maker, has been selling its electric buses and passenger vehicles in Europe for around a decade.

In July, it announced a plan to explore expansion into Japan, another major player on the global automobile stage, with three electric models to be launched in 2023. The Atto 3 crossover is scheduled to go on sale in Japan in January 2023, which will be followed by the Dolphin crossover and the Seal sedan later in the year.

BYD Chairman and President Wang Chuanfu said he greatly appreciates the opportunity to explore the Japanese market.

"We are devoted to providing Japanese consumers with leading technologies, excellent products and high-quality services, aiming to deliver an exceptional travel experience," said Wang.

"Over the years, BYD has been deeply engaged in the Japanese market and has accumulated a good market and brand foundation through its pure electric buses, energy storage systems, all-electric forklifts and other businesses."

BYD delivered the first zero-emissions buses to Kyoto in 2015. Since then, BYD's electric buses have been running on roads in such cities as Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Fukushima and Nagasaki and in Okinawa prefecture.

Great Wall Motors (GWM), China's largest pickup and SUV maker, celebrated its 1 millionth vehicle sold overseas in July. The carmaker said its gasoline models, including the Havel H6 SUV and Poer pickups, are increasingly recognized in foreign markets.

Wei Jianjun, chairman of GWM, said Chinese carmakers must embrace global markets if they really want to be competitive on the world stage.

Also in July, the carmaker launched its SUV model, Tank 300, in Saudi Arabia, the first overseas market for the Tank marque, which is meant to rival brands such as Toyota.

Xu Huanzhi, a senior executive in charge of GWM's operations in the Middle East, said the brand's vehicles are capable of off-road as well as urban uses to meet customer needs in the region.

GWM said it has also introduced models popular in China to other countries, including South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Chile.

Another pillar in the company's global strategy is increasing the use of electric-powered vehicles.

In Thailand, the carmaker is producing one electric model and two hybrid SUVs at a plant it acquired from General Motors. Now that it has a plant in the region with an annual production capacity of 120,000 vehicles, the carmaker said it is exploring neighboring markets including Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Singapore.

GWM is planning to produce NEVs in Brazil as well. It took over a Brazilian plant from Germany's Mercedes-Benz AG earlier this year, and is now upgrading the manufacturing facility, which will begin production in 2023.

At the plant's handover ceremony this year, the carmaker said it will launch 10 models in three years in Brazil, and export vehicles from Brazil to surrounding countries.

"From a new start on this new journey, we will use high-end electrification and intelligent technologies for a strategic breakthrough and tap deeply into the Brazilian market," the carmaker said.