South Korean Media: BYD Surpasses Ford for the First Time, Chinese Cars Dominate Global Markets!
On April 10, South Korean media outlet NEWSPIM published an article stating that Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has become the first Chinese company to rank sixth in the global automotive sales rankings. In the latest release of the top ten global automakers, Chinese enterprises now occupy three spots for the first time.
BYD achieved a total annual sales volume of 4.602 million units in 2025, successfully surpassing American automaker Ford and securing its first-ever position in the global top six. Subsequently, SAIC Motor and Geely Auto ranked seventh and ninth respectively with sales volumes of 4.508 million and 4.116 million units.
In the 2025 global automotive sales ranking, Toyota maintained its leading position with over 10 million units sold (11.32 million), followed by Volkswagen, Hyundai Motor Group, and General Motors occupying the top four positions. The Stellantis group, comprising multinational brands such as Jeep, Fiat, and Peugeot Citroën, firmly held fifth place. Among Japanese brands, Nissan fell out of the top ten, while Honda also faced instability.
Xu Haidong, Deputy Chief Engineer at the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, said: "The entry of China's three major automakers into the global top ten is directly linked to their comprehensive expansion into overseas markets. The pace of Chinese cars entering global markets will accelerate further."
An analysis points out that the rapid growth in Chinese auto sales is primarily driven by the continuous rise in new energy vehicle (NEV) adoption rates. BYD is achieving a 7.7% overall sales increase in 2025 through measures including optimizing its NEV product structure, enhancing supply chain efficiency, and advancing its globalization strategy—moving steadily toward joining the '5-million-club.'
Data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers show that China’s automobile production and sales reached 34.531 million units and 34.40 million units respectively in 2025, up 10.4% and 9.4% year-on-year. Notably, production and sales of new energy vehicles surpassed 16 million units, accounting for 50% of all new car sales domestically.
Under these circumstances, major Chinese automakers have maintained sustained revenue growth despite intense market competition, thanks to their unique competitive advantages in electric vehicle supply chains, diversified pricing models, and intelligent user experiences.
BYD’s pure electric vehicle sales exceeded 2.2567 million units in 2025, increasing by 27.86% year-on-year—surpassing Tesla for the first time and claiming the top spot globally in pure electric vehicle sales.
According to statistical data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, BYD’s overseas sales reached 1.05 million units in 2025, up 145% year-on-year. SAIC Motor’s overseas sales amounted to 1.071 million units, growing by 3.1% year-on-year.
The transformation of Chinese automakers’ roles and status in global competition is becoming increasingly evident. Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, stated: "China is rapidly establishing industry standards through advancements in electric vehicles, software, artificial intelligence, and battery technologies. Today, China is not only a major sales market but also a source of innovation and a crucial technological partner."
Original Source: toutiao.com/article/1862048043809792/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.