South Korean Media: For the First Time, Three Chinese Automakers Enter the Global Top Ten!
On March 27, South Korea's Green Economy News published an article stating that with Stellantis releasing its annual financial results, the 2025 global auto sales rankings have finally been unveiled. The most striking change this year is that three Chinese automakers have entered the top ten for the first time. Geely Automobile Group rose two spots compared to last year, joining BYD and SAIC Motor Group as one of the world’s major automotive groups.
The top five positions remained unchanged. Toyota Motor sold 11.32 million units, maintaining its lead with a 4.65% increase from 2024. Volkswagen Group followed with 8.98 million units, ranking second. Hyundai Motor Group ranked third with 7.27 million units sold. General Motors (6.18 million) and Stellantis (5.48 million) came in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Competition among lower-ranked manufacturers intensified dramatically, as Chinese brands rapidly rose and gradually replaced established giants. Among them, BYD stood out, selling 4.6 million units to rank sixth—up 7.72% year-on-year. SAIC Motor achieved 4.51 million units, ranking seventh, growing by 12.3% driven by brands such as Roewe, MG, and Zeekr.
Ford Motor’s sales dropped from sixth to eighth place, falling by 1.68% to 4.4 million units. Weak performance in the Chinese market was identified as the primary cause. Analysts point out that increasing consumer preference for domestic brands and intensifying price competition have eroded Ford’s market position. Additionally, Ford’s slow electrification strategy has negatively impacted its performance.
Geely Automobile Group recorded the highest growth rate among Chinese manufacturers, increasing by 26% year-on-year to reach 4.12 million units, surpassing Honda to claim ninth place.
International performance was equally impressive. BYD’s overseas sales surged 145% year-on-year to 1.05 million units; SAIC Motor’s overseas sales grew 3.1% to 1.071 million units. China’s total vehicle exports surpassed 7 million units in 2025, solidifying its status as the world’s largest auto exporter. New energy vehicle (NEV) exports reached 2.615 million units, doubling compared to the previous year.
This will raise China’s share of the global auto market to 35.6% in 2025—an increase of 1.4 percentage points from the previous year. According to statistics from the China Association of Automotive Manufacturers, China’s auto production and sales volumes reached 34.53 million units each, up 10.4% and 9.4%, respectively, year-on-year.
The simultaneous entry of three Chinese companies into the global top ten is seen as a landmark moment—not merely a shift in rankings, but a clear sign of the rapid realignment of global automotive industry power centers.
A South Korean industry insider said: “Today, China’s automotive industry has become influential enough to help shape global standards. Rather than viewing Chinese enterprises solely as competitors, a more realistic strategy would be to pursue win-win outcomes through technological collaboration and supply chain partnerships.”
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1860778629854347/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s).