China News Service, Guangzhou, October 17 (Reporter Cheng Jingwei) "What we need to do now is to strengthen cooperation with Chinese companies, become agents before others, and sell Chinese new energy vehicles back to Europe." At the new energy vehicle and smart travel exhibition area of the 140th Canton Fair being held, Calzada Amorrortu Martin, a buyer from Spain, said in an interview with a reporter from China News Service.
As a traditional car dealer, Martin said that China is at the forefront of the world in the development of new energy vehicles. This is an indisputable fact and Europe must face it pragmatically. He has planned a path for cooperation with Chinese car companies: starting with agency sales, and then further introducing Chinese technology and industrial chain cooperation to set up factories to achieve localized production and manufacturing of new energy vehicles.
Blanco Aparicio Jesus Maria, a buyer also from Spain, said frankly from the perspective of European companies that he was initially worried about Chinese companies seizing the market, impacting the development of local automobile companies and increasing unemployment, but the worry was useless. European companies need to adjust their thinking and look for differentiated cooperation opportunities. "New energy vehicles need supporting charging piles. I plan to cooperate with Chinese companies to lay out charging piles and make a difference in the field of energy supplement facilities."
A large number of overseas buyers came to the new energy vehicle and smart travel exhibition area of this Canton Fair. They got into the cars to experience them and inquired and negotiated with Chinese car companies about their favorite products. The popularity of this exhibition area is a microcosm of China's new energy vehicle industry continuing to lead the world.
Data from the China Automobile Association shows that in the first three quarters of 2026, China exported 4.006 million new energy vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 1.3 times, and the growth rate far exceeded the overall level of automobile exports; new energy vehicle exports accounted for more than 50% of all automobile exports for four consecutive months.
Behind this situation, Chinese car companies continue to promote technological innovation and optimize market layout. In front of the GAC booth at the Canton Fair, three models including the Qijing GX7, as well as DC super fast charging stations and other exhibits attracted many overseas buyers. As of September this year, GAC has established 7 overseas factories, 9 parts transfer warehouses and 4 global R&D centers.
New energy heavy-duty trucks used in cargo transportation and other fields have also appeared at this Canton Fair. At the booth of China National Heavy Duty Truck Group International Corporation, Hong Kong buyer Zeng Guixian was asking about the cruising range and safety performance of a new energy heavy truck. "It is green and environmentally friendly, and the energy consumption cost is much lower than that of a fuel vehicle. Moreover, the shape of this car is very modern." He commented.
As a "old Cantonese trader" with nearly 50 years of experience participating in the conference, Zeng Guixian used to purchase screws, building materials and other commodities. Now he is targeting new energy heavy trucks and plans to sell them to European and American countries such as the United Kingdom and Canada. Factors such as energy shortages are forcing Europe to accelerate electrification and China's technological leadership in new energy vehicles are all important factors he considers.
Recently, China and the EU have reached multiple consensuses on the trade level of hybrid and electric vehicles, providing a stable, predictable and sustainable trade environment for the industries on both sides. "The essence of China-EU economic and trade relations is mutual benefit and win-win results." Ji Xuehong, director of the Automotive Industry Innovation Research Center of North China University of Technology, believes that in the context of increasing uncertainty in global trade, the EU is gradually realizing that cooperation with China is more certain.
Currently, China's new energy vehicle companies are moving from "exporting products overseas" to "exporting industry chains, technologies, and ecology overseas." Since 2026, China's mainstream car companies have accelerated the deployment of physical production capacity in Europe through various models such as self-construction, OEM, and joint ventures.
BYD's Szeged plant in Hungary has a planned annual production capacity of 300,000 vehicles, with a total investment of approximately 4 billion euros. The first phase of the production line installation and commissioning has been completed, and the vehicle is planned to be assembled in the fourth quarter of 2026. At the same time, Chery has revitalized the former Nissan factory in Spain and the new production line has been put into production; Xpeng Motors manufactures G6 and G9 models through the Magna factory in Austria.
