Chery Sets New Export Record for Chinese Carmakers

Chery Automobile Co set a monthly export record for domestic carmakers by exporting 20,093 vehicles in May, a 42.4% jump year-on-year and 15.4% month-on-month, the company announced Tuesday.

Chery’s overseas sales target for 2012 is 170,000 units. Current trends suggest that total export sales will surpass 200,000 units for the first time for all domestic carmakers.

In 2011 Chery had set an export record with 160,200 vehicles, an 80% jump over 2010, to secure its status as China’s leading homegrown auto exporter.

The company credits export success to its ambitious overseas expansion. So far Chery has built 16 overseas production bases to establish its capacity to tailor vehicles for local markets. It has over 1,153 overseas dealers overseas selling vehicles in over 80 countries and regions.

Chery opened its Venezuela plant last August, and a plant under construction in Brazil is expected to come online in September 2013. The Anhui-province-based firm has also announced plans to build production capacity in Myanmar and several African nations.