In 2025, for the first time in two decades of Japanese dominance, China surpassed Japan in global sales of new cars. This is considering both units sold in domestic markets and exports. The Nikkei China anticipates this, based on figures from the consulting firm S&P Global Mobility and manufacturers, which indicate sales of 27 million Chinese cars worldwide last year, compared to 25 million Japanese cars.
Regarding Chinese manufacturers, about 70% of sales took place in the domestic market, the largest in the world since 2009, where NEVs (an acronym for new energy vehicles, meaning: electric and plug-in hybrid cars) represent about 60% of new car sales. According to the same source, two brands based in China, BYD and Geely, have now entered the Top 10 of manufacturers that sold the most cars globally last year.
The performance recorded by Chinese manufacturers, also according to Nikkei China, is also due to the growth they achieved in regions previously dominated by the Japanese, where they recorded significant increases in sales – Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa, for example. Japanese manufacturers, on the other hand, according to forecasts, lost sales in (many!) key markets, such as the US and… China!
