Data released by CAAM (China Association of Automobile Manufacturers) in early 2026 showed that China’s auto production and sales reached record highs in 2025, totaling 34.53 million units and 34.4 million units, respectively – year-over-year increases of 10.4% and 9.4%. Output has now remained above 30 million units for three consecutive years.
EV production and sales also hit record highs in 2025, reaching 16.63 million units and 16.49 million units, respectively – up 29% and 28.2% YOY. EVs accounted for 47.9% of total new-vehicle sales.
In early March 2026, CMTBA (China Machine Tool and Tools Builders’ Association) released the latest import and export statistics for 2025 for China's machine tool industry . Highlights include:
The total value of imports and exports of China's machine tool industry was $33.48 billion, up 5% YOY. Imports reached $10.3 billion, up 1.4% YOY, and exports continued growing, reaching $23.18 billion, an increase of 6.7% YOY. The top five countries of origin for imports are: Japan ($3.49 billion), Germany ($2.42 billion), Taiwan ($1.13 billion), Korea ($560 million), and Switzerland ($430 million).
The following is a breakdown of imports of machine tools, tools, and metal-cutting machines, totaling $4.77 billion and down 1.04% YOY.
The top five machine tools imported were: machining centers ($1.83 billion), special processing machines ($1.07 billion), grinding machines ($680 million), gear-generating machines ($550 million), and turning machines ($400 million)
Core components, $1.38 billion, down 1.43%
Cutting tools, $1.27 billion, up 3.25%
CNC control systems, $1.05 billion, soaring 16.85%
Abrasives, $760 million, up 5.56%
Metal-forming machines, $610 million, shrinking 7.58%
Measurement and inspection devices, $190 million, unchanged YOY.
A few recently announced projects and investment news items are listed below.
In a plan established in June 2024, Yixing Weiying Precision Sci & Tech Co. is investing $140 million in two phases for R&D and EV parts production in Jiangsu Province.
Huzhou Ailing Vision Sci & Tech Co. will invest $9.04 million to construct a facility in Zhejiang Province for the production of automotive lamps. The company intends its production and assembly lines to achieve an annual output of 1 million EV lamps.
Youji CNC Machine Tools (Jiangxi) Co. will invest $279 million to build an advanced manufacturing facility for mid-range to high-end CNC machine tools. The purchasing plan includes measuring equipment, machining centers, grinding machines, turning centers, and sheet-metal forming machines. The company aims to reach an annual output of 500 sets.
Zhejiang Xinjing HVAC Co. will invest $164 million into a new thermal management system project for EVs; the project will be in two phases, with a planned annual production capacity of 3 million units.
China’s Sany Group, the world’s third-largest construction machinery supplier, is investing $155 million to produce excavators and related components in Jiangsu Province. Production equipment purchases include industrial robots, laser cutting machines, press brakes, machining centers, and measuring devices. The company plans to produce 30,000 excavators annually.
For more information, please contact Fred Qian at fredqian@AMTchina.org, and to learn how to take advantage of these opportunities, click here.
