China surpassed Japan as the world’s leading vehicle exporter in 2023, with a focus on electric cars, according to data from the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association. China exported 4.91 million vehicles, while Japan exported 4.42 million. The Chinese auto industry has seen significant growth in electric cars, while Japanese manufacturers have focused on hybrid vehicles. Japanese automakers have announced plans to increase their electric vehicle production in the coming years. This shift in the industry has drawn comparisons to Japan’s automotive export boom in the 1980s.