China's car sales surpass Japan, ranking first globally

Judging from new vehicle sales in 2025, China’s automakers’ global sales will rise to the No. 1 spot for the first time, while Japanese automakers—who have held the No. 1 position for more than 20 years—will drop to No. 2. China’s auto exports have already taken the lead, firmly establishing its status as an automobile powerhouse. To counter companies in other countries that face stronger price competitiveness from China, countries are likely to erect barriers through tariffs and new standards. Friction is likely to intensify worldwide, and protectionism aimed at protecting domestic companies may strengthen.

Nikkei has compiled these statistics based on information released by each company from January to November 2025, along with data from S&P Global Automotive (S&P Global Mobility). Sales include commercial vehicles. They cover sales in the domestic market as well as in overseas markets such as exports. The country classification is determined by the share of investment; when each side contributes half, the country is set as that of the manufacturer of the brand name at the time of sale.

China’s global auto sales are expected to grow 17% year on year, to about 27 million units. In 2023, China ranked No. 1 in auto exports for the first time. Overall sales will also jump to the top spot in 2025.

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