Hong Kong is capitalizing on its global connectivity and financial and legal expertise to help Chinese mainland automakers tap right-hand-drive markets worldwide, as the industry evolves from product exports to building overseas supply chains.
The strategy will be a major focus of the 2026 International Automotive and Supply Chain Expo (Hong Kong), scheduled for June 18 through 22 at AsiaWorld-Expo, organizers said at a news conference on Wednesday.
More than 70 countries and regions use right-hand-drive vehicles, representing about a quarter of the global auto market, said Wingco Lo Kam-wing, president of the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong and chief chairman of the expo’s organizing committee.
“We see Hong Kong as a strategic starting point for mainland automakers entering this ‘blue-ocean’ market,” Lo said.
He added that Chinese companies are increasingly shifting from simply exporting vehicles to building overseas ecosystems that include technologies, capital, supply chains and professionals.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is well positioned to support this transition, particularly through green finance, ESG compliance and intellectual property protection, Lo said, adding that these areas align with the country’s push for low-carbon mobility.
Besides local demand, such as the phased replacement of fuel-powered taxis, renewal of government vehicles and other large-scale procurements, the expo is also expected to attract more than 60 international buyer delegations, according to Lo.
Two thematic forums will be held alongside the exhibition, led respectively by the Department of Justice and the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau.
Fu Bingfeng, executive vice-president of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers and chairman of the expo organizing committee, said China remained the world’s largest auto market in 2025 for the 17th consecutive year, with its production and sales each exceeding 34 million vehicles, up 10 percent year-on-year.
The country’s auto exports surpassed 7 million units in 2025 for the first time, extending five consecutive years of growth, Fu said. New energy vehicle exports reached 2.6 million units, doubling from a year earlier.
More than 300 companies participated in last year’s inaugural Hong Kong auto expo, including over 50 mainland automakers and leading suppliers, during which more than 100 new models were unveiled.
Since the previous event, multiple mainland carmakers have listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange or established operation centers and joint research laboratories in the city, Fu said.
Automobile manufacturer Geely Holding Group will showcase new energy and intelligent vehicle technologies at this year’s event, including methanol-electric solutions for Hong Kong’s road and marine transport, said Yang Xueliang, the company’s senior vice-president.
CaoCao Inc, Geely’s ride-hailing platform, will show its robotaxi prototype. Yang said the company plans to deploy more than 100,000 such self-driving taxis globally over the next five years, and is also considering rolling out the service in Hong Kong.
“Hong Kong is a key barometer for the global right-hand-drive vehicle market,” Yang said. “Through this international platform, mainland auto brands can more effectively reach major right-hand-drive markets such as Southeast Asia, so as to accelerate the leap from product exports to ecosystem expansion.”
Contact the writer at irisli@chinadailyhk.com