China's car sales surpass Japan, ranking first globally

From the perspective of new car sales in 2025, Chinese automakers’ global sales will for the first time leap to the top position, while Japanese automakers, who have held the top spot for over 20 years, will drop to second place. China’s automobile exports have already ranked first, establishing its status as a major automotive power. To counter the price competitiveness of Chinese companies, countries will set barriers in terms of tariffs and new standards. Global friction is intensifying, and protectionism to safeguard domestic enterprises may strengthen.

According to statistics compiled by the Nikkei based on data published by various companies from January to November 2025 and data from S&P Global Mobility, the sales figures include commercial vehicles. The sales encompass both domestic markets and overseas markets, including exports. The classification of countries is based on the proportion of investment, with the manufacturing country determined by the brand name at the time of sale when each party invests equally.

Global sales of Chinese automobiles are expected to increase by 17% year-on-year, reaching approximately 27 million units. China will rank first in automobile exports for the first time in 2023. Overall sales will also leap to first place in 2025.

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