China has 15 to 20 million units of idle car manufacturing capacity
Michael Dunne · How China is reshaping the global auto market · Jun 11, 2026 · at 6:41
Automotive expert Michael Dunne provides figures on China's total auto production capacity, domestic demand, and idle manufacturing capacity.
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“So to put some numbers to it, this year, China has capacity to build about fifty five million cars. Their domestic demand is twenty five million. They'll export another ten million. That leaves 15 to twenty million in excess capacity idle, looking for new markets.”
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