From January-November 2021, China exported about 100,000 NEVs to Belgium.

With Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) makers, including Nio, making Norway their first stop in overseas markets, many people may have the impression that the country is China's largest destination for NEV exports. But that's not the real picture.

From January to November 2021, China exported about 100,000 NEVs to Belgium, making the country the largest export destination for local NEV companies, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) said in a report released today.

The report cites data from China's General Administration of Customs showing that among the top 10 major export destinations for Chinese NEVs in the first 11 months were: Belgium, Bangladesh, the UK, India, Thailand, Germany, Slovenia, France, Australia and Norway.

(Image credit: China Association of Automobile Manufacturers)

Norway's ranking at No. 10 is slightly surprising, considering that several high-profile Chinese EV makers have made the country their first stop in overseas markets.

Nio officially announced its entry into Norway last May, and opened its first overseas Nio House in Oslo in October.

The company's ES8 SUV was the first model to be exported to Norway, and its flagship sedan, the ET7, is expected to be available in the country this year.

Nio's local counterpart Xpeng Motors delivered the first European version of the Xpeng G3 to customers in Norway in December 2020.

Last June, BYD announced its official entry into Europe for its passenger car business, with Norway as the first stop.

Compared with the same period in 2020, China's NEV exports to these 10 countries showed varying degrees of growth, with more significant growth rates to Slovenia, Australia and Thailand, the CAAM said.

From January to November 2021, China exported a cumulative total of 388,000 NEVs to these 10 countries, accounting for 78 percent of total NEV exports, the CAAM said.

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