China's car sales surpass Japan, ranking first globally

Based on new car sales in 2025, Chinese automakers will for the first time surpass the world’s total vehicle sales, taking the top spot from Japan, which has held the position for over 20 years. China’s automobile exports have already become the largest, establishing its status as a major automotive power. To counter the price competitiveness of Chinese companies, countries will set up barriers through tariffs and new standards. Global tensions are intensifying, and protectionist measures to safeguard domestic industries may strengthen.

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) compiled data from various companies’ reports from January to November 2025 and from S&P Global Mobility. Sales figures include commercial vehicles and cover both domestic and overseas markets, including exports. The country classification is based on the proportion of investment; in cases where investments are equal, the manufacturer’s country of origin is determined by the brand name at the time of sale.

China’s global vehicle sales are expected to increase by 17% year-on-year, reaching approximately 27 million units. China ranked first in vehicle exports for the first time in 2023. Overall sales are also projected to surpass all others by 2025.

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Japan Economic News and the Financial Times merged in November 2015 to form a single media group. This alliance, formed by two newspapers founded in the 19th century in Japan and the UK, is committed to “high-quality, comprehensive economic news,” and promotes collaboration across various special features. As part of this effort, the two newspapers’ Chinese-language websites now exchange articles.