On May 24, Manchester City played against Aston Villa at home, which was Guardiola's final match managing Man City, also a farewell full of ritual. No matter how reluctant fans were, the 10-year Blue Moon Dynasty finally reached the time to say goodbye.
In this farewell atmosphere, Coach Guardiola drove away in that blue Sea Lion 07, showing unprecedented presence in front of billions of fans globally.
Many people saw this scene and were shocked, some wiped their eyes, finding it really was BYD. Another part sighed, changed person, changed scene, how did this BYD suddenly become high-end. Some others dug out information, this car sells for £44,990 in UK, truly a high-end car in name and reality.
Actually while Guardiola left driving BYD, the overseas road of domestic cars was surging. Why say this? Let Kung Fu Auto take everyone to have a look.
(1) Break Through Plateau, Domestic Car Exports Continue Significant Growth
On May 25, Cui Dongshu, Secretary-General of China Passenger Car Association, announced the latest export information.
This year January-April, domestic car exports reached 3.26 million, up 51% compared to same period in 2025. Among them April export volume was 940,000, nearly 1 million single month, up 52% year-on-year. This data is too exaggerated. It is known that Chinese car exports experienced many years of million-level plateau, breaking through only in 2021, yet now nearly 1 million vehicles exported in single month.
More specifically, Brazil surpassed Russia as China's largest car export country. April single-month exports reached 121,766 vehicles. Russia ranked second at 77,524 vehicles. Additionally, Belgium, Australia, UK exports were all around 50,000.
Key point domestic car exports highlight "selling everything". April BEV share was 31%, PHEV 18%, HEV 7%, traditional fuel cars only 34%. This also shows one point, NEVs not only popular domestically, also competitive in international market. Meanwhile, domestic fuel cars going international, still have competitiveness.
Also another trend, previously domestic car key markets concentrated on Russia and Middle East. Initially thought this Middle East tension would greatly affect exports. Unexpectedly reality situation was opposite, Western Europe (UK, Belgium, Germany, Italy) and South/Central America (Brazil) markets became core increases, domestic car export share to developed countries increased significantly.
Whether Middle East geopolitical impact or EU/US trade barriers, cannot say no impact on domestic cars, but none touched root. Core is one point, domestic car product strength truly strong.
BEV, PHEV, HEV three routes all landed, adapting to different regional oil quality, road conditions, recharging conditions. Global adaptability far exceeds overseas competitors. Ability to enter German, UK, Belgium and other European developed markets in bulk, means vehicles in safety, energy consumption, durability, regulations fully benchmark or even exceed local mainstream models. Hard power recognized.
(2) Pure Electric Growth Slows, Is it an Open Strategy?
Cui Dongshu gave NEV export situation. This year January-April, Brazil was undoubtedly pure electric largest market, sold 222,000 NEVs vast majority were BEV. Belgium as European gateway, 130,000 NEVs almost all pure electric.
UK, Australia, Thailand, UAE these markets also focus on BEV, PHEV gradually penetrating.
In this way, pure electric market actually divided into three blocks. Europe is high-end pure electric main battlefield, requiring highest quality, intelligence, safety. Even Guardiola drives BYD. Brazil, Australia mid-high-end pure electric combined with some economy pure electric. Southeast Asia started economy pure electric gradual volume release.
Mainly due to supply chain maturity, same spec BEVs generally 30%–50% cheaper than Europe/Korea/Japan BEVs. Especially some A00/A0 Class, like Wuling Hongguang MINI, BYD Seagull etc., in emerging markets very competitive, account for over half BEV exports. If subsequent Geely Star Wish can also go out, believe will also have good market performance.
Speaking Zeekr plus Galaxy combination, high-end pure electric plus economy family car, really perfectly suits overseas market. No wonder Geely export growth so fast. January-April 2026, Geely NEV exports year-on-year increased by full 624.5%, growth rate industry first, just because product too adaptable.
Of course, some people mention, entering 2026, pure electric export growth slowed, while PHEV share reached 18%, already exceeded half of pure electric. This mainly due to recharging infrastructure differences. Many countries charging piles insufficient, more prefer PHEV, HEV, drag pure electric penetration rate.
Domestic also experienced this stage. On one hand infrastructure must follow up gradually. On other hand ideas "follow up". Why did domestic range extenders experience several years big growth then shrink? Because people who bought range extenders early finally realized using electricity too "addictive", subsequent car replacement only considers pure electric. Expected overseas market also this sequence.
(3) Tech, Brand Dual Output, Becoming Steadier and Steadier
In 2023, Chinese car export volume reached 4.91 million, surpassed Japan for first time, became world's largest car export country. These two years gap always widening. This year expected to reach 10 million scale, already far ahead.
Also many people worry, domestic cars will repeat domestic motorcycle fate. Early 2000s, domestic fuel motorcycles in Southeast Asia market share once reached 80%+. Result few years time dropped to 1%. Now domestic cars also this driving. Exports seem unstoppable. Will it also on some day directly collapse.
This actually completely need not worry. Now domestic cars, walk tech, brand dual output high-end road. Why Guardiola chose Sea Lion 07, because dual motor 4.2s 0-100, Blade Battery, Cell to Body car body. Although in domestic only 200,000 level car, but product strength can benchmark Porsche Taycan, Tesla Model S.
Even Coach himself frankly, "After test driving in Manchester for few weeks, performance, comfort and tech completely moved me". Getting recognition from football "Tactical Master", equivalent to having authority endorsement. Domestic cars in UK pure electric market share, also long ago surpassed American, German, Japanese cars, topped first. In Europe, Japan often won professional awards.
Before relied on price war to enter Southeast Asia, Middle East markets, image low-end. Nowadays use tech strength directly benchmark luxury brands, no longer just rely on low price compromise. In recent years, domestic cars start to brand implant into Europeans daily focus football, racing scenes. Also started production in Brazil, Thailand, Hungary etc., not to grab one time, but truly root locally.
Nowadays domestic cars, long ago no longer hide behind curtains OEM, but with independent brands face global consumers, start truly realize from "Made in China" to "Created in China". NEV track overtake on change of track, let Chinese car first time in global mainstream market own discourse power.
(4) Kung Fu Commentary
When Guardiola drove blue BYD waving goodbye to Blue Moon field, this vehicle sailing to world, also became vivid footnote for Chinese cars setting sail overseas.
From previous low price volume, image limited, to now rely on hardcore tech stand firm EU US high-end markets, multiple power routes comprehensive bloom domestic cars, overseas map is continuously expanding, completely jumped out past development predicament.
Once looked up at full street overseas luxury cars, now looking at world full of Chinese sedans. Push forward five years ago, who could think today?
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