Chinese automakers climb in global top 10 sales rankings

As Chinese automakers climb global sales rankings, consumers at home and abroad are gaining access to more advanced and affordable green mobility options, experts said.

In the first half of this year, Chinese brands BYD and Geely climbed in the global sales rankings to secure No 7 and 8 among the world's top 10 carmakers, surpassing long-established foreign giants like Honda and Nissan for the first time, according to data gathered by Shanghai-based business media outlet Yicai.

Last year, BYD and Geely ranked No 8 and 10 by sales.

The growth momentum was equally striking. In the January-June period, BYD and Geely recorded year-on-year sales increases of 33 percent and 29 percent, respectively — the fastest among the global top 10. They were also the only two carmakers in the group to post double-digit growth, according to Yicai.

"This reflects the rising global standing of Chinese automakers, driven by robust demand at home and solid performance in export markets," Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association, told China Daily.

"Particularly this year, amid global uncertainties, the country's car exports have maintained solid momentum and achieved high-quality growth," Cui said.

According to Cui, China exported 3.48 million vehicles in the first half, up 18 percent year-on-year. Exports of new energy vehicles reached 1.42 million units, a surge of 41 percent year-on-year, and accounted for 41 percent of total exports, seven percentage points higher than the same period in 2024.

"China's NEV exports in the first half outperformed expectations, with plug-in hybrids and hybrid models emerging as new growth drivers, replacing pure EVs as the main engine of export expansion," said Cui.

Chinese plug-in hybrids, supported by a complete supply chain and lower costs, hold a clear cost advantage and are favored by consumers in overseas markets such as Europe, Cui said.

Data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showed that exports of plug-in hybrid models reached 390,000 units in the first six months, a year-on-year jump of 210 percent, far out-pacing the 40.2 percent growth rate of pure EVs.

The results come from Chinese automakers' accelerated efforts in vertical integration, from in-house batteries to semiconductors, and research and development such as plug-in and range-extended technologies, said Zhang Hong, a senior NEV industry expert at the China Automobile Dealers Association.

"These advances have enabled cost control and performance gains, providing global consumers with more high-quality green mobility options," Zhang said.

Zhang added that Chinese automakers are continuing to sharpen their competitive edge through cost-cutting technologies and economies of scale, creating a virtuous cycle for the industry and therefore benefiting end-users.

"With the continued advance of smart features and wider adoption of intelligent driving, navigation on autopilot technology could soon become standard in models priced around 150,000 yuan ($21,000), while lidar costs may fall to about 1,200 yuan," he said.