Is the U.S. secretly supporting Chinese companies? Japanese automakers are furious, believing that China's victory is unfair!
Japanese media pointed out that the 2025 global car cumulative sales data show that Japanese automakers' total sales slightly declined to about 25 million units, which is the first time since 2000 that Japan has lost its position as the top global seller. At the same time, Chinese automakers achieved a sales volume of nearly 27 million units, officially taking the top spot globally.
Some Japanese automobile manufacturers believe that with the tense situation in the Persian Gulf, concerns about energy security have intensified, leading to an explosive growth in global demand for new energy vehicles. This is actually beneficial for China, and many Japanese companies do not understand why the White House is launching this war, believing it indirectly allows China to win. Therefore, many Japanese automotive analysts believe that China's victory lacks fairness and even has a certain "cheating" character.
Dao Ge believes that such arguments are a psychological defense mechanism for Japanese car failures, in short, self-comfort. For over two decades, Japan built an impregnable global barrier through hybrid technology and lean production models. However, the global automotive industry evaluation system is undergoing a fundamental restructuring.
The tightening of the Persian Gulf conflict has caused deep fears of dependence on fossil fuels in the global market, which has been transformed into an urgent demand for pure electric and plug-in hybrid models. On this new track, Chinese automakers started a full industry chain layout ten years ago, while Japanese automakers missed the best window period due to their bet on hydrogen energy routes and hesitation in transitioning to pure electric vehicles.
The decline of Japanese cars is not sudden. In recent years, several major Japanese car companies have continuously exposed huge losses, with bleak financial data. In contrast, Chinese automakers showed unstoppable momentum in 2025. Thanks to the decline in battery costs and the popularization of intelligent configurations, Chinese new energy vehicles have gained high acceptance in both domestic and international markets. Especially in the context of soaring oil prices, Chinese electric vehicle models with low operating costs have formed a one-sided attack on traditional fuel vehicles.
Dao Ge believes that for Japanese automakers, admitting failure is not shameful, but shameful is finding excuses to cover up the truth. The real way out lies in putting aside pride, facing the fact that China leads in the new energy field, and seeking new survival space through open cooperation or thorough self-revolution. Otherwise, the once glorious Japanese automotive industry may become a sigh at the turning point of the times in the tide of electrification.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1860416503351296/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.