Chinese automakers like BYD and Geely are rapidly gaining ground, setting new sales records and reshaping the European market. Yet, official data shows they still lag behind established global leaders in total vehicle sales.
BYD, Geely and MG have become impossible to ignore in the European car market. Their rapid ascent has unsettled established brands and forced a rethink of what buyers expect, especially as Chinese models now account for a significant share of new registrations in countries like Spain. According to the latest figures from Anfac, Chinese brands made up 14.27% of passenger car sales in Spain by the end of July this year—a remarkable leap in less than five years.
Yet, the global picture is more nuanced. While Chinese manufacturers have made impressive inroads, they have not yet overtaken the world’s leading carmakers in total sales. The International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA) reports that the global auto market closed 2025 with 99.8 million vehicles sold, up 4.7% from the previous year. China remains the engine of growth, with 34.5 million vehicles sold—about 35% of all global registrations. However, this dominance in market size does not automatically translate to Chinese brands leading worldwide sales.
In fact, the world’s top-selling automaker in 2025 was Toyota, which moved 11.32 million vehicles across its brands, including Lexus, Daihatsu and Hino. This marks the sixth consecutive year Toyota has held the top spot. Volkswagen Group followed with 8.98 million units, then Hyundai with 7.27 million, and General Motors with 6 million. Stellantis rounded out the top five. These positions remain largely in the hands of Japanese, European, Korean and American manufacturers.
Chinese brands, however, are climbing fast. BYD reached 4.6 million vehicles sold in 2025, securing sixth place globally. SAIC followed closely with 4.51 million, overtaking Ford, which slipped to eighth with 4.4 million units. Geely also entered the top ten, selling 4.12 million vehicles and edging out Honda, which finished tenth with 3.52 million.
While Chinese automakers have not yet claimed the global sales crown, their growth rate is unmatched. The momentum is especially clear in the electric vehicle segment. BYD has already surpassed Tesla to become the world’s largest producer of electric and plug-in hybrid cars. Other Chinese brands like SAIC, Geely, Leapmotor and GAC are also making their mark in international EV rankings.
China’s dominance in electric vehicle exports is striking: four out of every five electric cars built in China and shipped abroad now carry a Chinese badge. This share continues to rise as these brands expand into Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The shift in buyer preferences is also reflected in recent surveys, such as one highlighted by a major US study on car features, which shows how consumer priorities are evolving alongside the rise of new players.
For now, Chinese brands are rewriting the rules of the global car market, but the established giants still hold the lead. The next few years will reveal whether China’s rapid growth can translate into true global dominance—or if the traditional leaders will adapt and hold their ground.
