Top 20 Automakers in the World
Fresh names dominate today’s auto world – where things shifted fast. Out of China came new players claiming space on the big stage.
Powering up, electric models changed who leads the race. Once-dominant brands? Now they trail behind.
Curious who makes the most cars worldwide? It really comes down to what number matters to you.
Look at total vehicles moved, and the leader shifts. Switch to dollars earned, it changes again.
Even stock worth paints a different picture. This lineup uses full-year delivery counts.
That way, size and spread show up clearly.
Toyota Group
Toyota holds the top spot and has for five consecutive years. The Japanese giant sold 10.8 million vehicles in 2024, spanning its Toyota, Lexus, Daihatsu, and Hino brands.
That figure represents a 3.7% decline from 2023, largely due to certification test issues at subsidiary Daihatsu that hurt domestic sales in Japan. The company has taken a cautious approach to full electrification, betting heavily on hybrids instead.
That strategy has paid off so far. Hybrids accounted for a record 40.8% of Toyota’s parent-only sales in 2024.
Volkswagen Group
The German conglomerate sits in second place with 9.03 million vehicles delivered in 2024, down 2.3% from the prior year. Volkswagen Group includes VW, Audi, Porsche, SEAT, Škoda, Bentley, Lamborghini, and several commercial vehicle brands.
The company has pushed hard into EVs with its ID series, though EV sales actually dropped 3.4% globally in 2024. VW remains the market leader in Europe but has struggled badly in China, where deliveries fell nearly 10%.
Hyundai Motor Group
South Korea’s flagship automaker has climbed the rankings steadily. Hyundai Motor Group, which includes Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis, sold 7.23 million vehicles in 2024.
Hyundai sold 4.14 million units while Kia contributed around 3.09 million. The company has made smart bets on both electric vehicles and traditional powertrains, with hybrid sales surging.
Kia has posted seven consecutive years of sales increases. Genesis, the luxury division, had its best year ever with sales up 8%.
Stellantis
The merger of Fiat Chrysler and PSA Group created this automotive giant in 2021. Stellantis includes Jeep, Ram, Dodge, Chrysler, Fiat, Peugeot, Citroën, Opel, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati.
The company sold 5.7 million vehicles in 2024, a sharp decline from 6.2 million the year before. It was a brutal year for Stellantis.
Sales dropped in both Europe and North America. The company reported a 70% drop in net profit, and CEO Carlos Tavares resigned in December, two years before his contract was set to expire.
General Motors
America’s largest automaker sold approximately 6 million vehicles globally in 2024. In the US alone, GM moved 2.7 million vehicles, up 4% and its highest total since 2019.
GM has invested heavily in electric vehicles, and its EV sales jumped 125% last year, making it the second-largest EV seller in the US by the end of the year. The GMC brand had its best year ever.
But GM’s global numbers have declined significantly from the 10 million vehicles it sold in 2016, reflecting its pullback from international markets to focus on North America.
Ford Motor Company
Ford sold 4.5 million vehicles globally in 2024, a modest increase from 4.4 million in 2023. The company remains the third best-selling automotive brand worldwide, behind only Toyota and Volkswagen.
In the US, Ford moved over 2 million vehicles, up 4%. The F-Series remained the best-selling truck in America for the 46th consecutive year, with 765,649 units sold.
Ford’s hybrid sales rose 27% and electric sales climbed 16%. Lincoln reversed four straight years of declines with a 28% increase.
BYD
The most dramatic riser on this list. BYD, which stands for Build Your Dreams, sold 4.27 million vehicles in 2024, representing a 41% increase from the prior year.
The Chinese company achieved extraordinary growth in overseas markets, with exports up 72% to 417,204 vehicles. BYD makes both battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids.
In the race for global EV supremacy, BYD produced slightly more battery-electric vehicles than Tesla in 2024, though Tesla still edged ahead in total EV deliveries. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway remains a significant investor.
Honda Motor
Honda sold approximately 3.7 million automobiles globally in its fiscal year 2024, down about 11% from the previous year. The company has been slower to electrify than some competitors, but it launched its first battery-electric vehicle, the Prologue, in the US market.
In the US specifically, Honda had a strong year with total sales of 1.4 million units, up 8%. The company remains strong in motorcycles too, selling nearly 19 million units globally.
Suzuki
The Japanese manufacturer sold approximately 3.1 million vehicles, with particular strength in India, where Maruti Suzuki dominates the market. Suzuki focuses on smaller, affordable vehicles rather than competing in the premium segment.
The company has partnerships with Toyota and has been slower than rivals to develop EVs.
Geely Group
Geely has become the first Chinese automaker to crack the top ten in global rankings. The company owns Volvo Cars, Polestar, Lotus, and several Chinese brands including Zeekr, Lynk & Co, and Geely Galaxy.
This diverse portfolio sold around 2.8 million vehicles combined in 2024, with growth of over 30%. Geely is the only Chinese automaker with a meaningful presence in the US through its Volvo and Polestar brands.
Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance
This Franco-Japanese partnership has faced turbulence in recent years. The alliance structure itself has loosened considerably, with each partner operating more independently than before.
Nissan has struggled in key markets, particularly China, where Japanese automakers have lost significant ground to domestic competitors. Renault has performed better in Europe with affordable EVs and compact cars.
Honda and Nissan announced they are exploring a potential merger to better compete in the EV era.
Mercedes-Benz Group
The German luxury automaker sold approximately 2.4 million vehicles. Mercedes has been pushing upmarket, focusing on higher-margin vehicles.
The company is also investing heavily in electric vehicles with its EQ lineup. Mercedes remains a leader in the luxury segment globally, competing directly with BMW and Audi.
The company has been investing in green steel for manufacturing.
BMW Group
BMW, including Mini and Rolls-Royce, sold around 2.3 million vehicles. The company has taken a flexible approach to powertrains, offering internal combustion, hybrid, and fully electric versions of many models.
BMW has been investing in green steel and sustainable manufacturing. The company has maintained profitability despite heavy investment in electrification.
SAIC Motor
This Chinese state-owned company doesn’t get much attention in Western markets, but it’s a major player globally. SAIC owns the MG brand and has joint ventures with Volkswagen and GM in China.
The company has been expanding exports aggressively, particularly of MG-branded vehicles to Europe and other markets. SAIC reached 50% EV sales share in 2024.
Changan Automobile
Another state-owned Chinese automaker, Changan sold over 2.6 million vehicles in 2024, up about 5% from the prior year. The company has invested heavily in electric vehicles through brands like Deepal and Avatr, with new energy vehicle sales surging over 52% to 733,000 units.
Changan has joint ventures with Ford and Mazda, though its own brands now contribute over 80% of sales. Overseas sales grew nearly 50% to 536,000 units.
Chery Automobile
Chery has been China’s top vehicle exporter for 22 consecutive years. The company has grown rapidly by targeting emerging markets with affordable vehicles.
Chery increased its zero-emission vehicle sales significantly in 2024 and is now entering new markets including potential partnerships in India.
Tesla
Tesla delivered 1.79 million vehicles in 2024, a 1% decline from 2023 and its first annual drop in deliveries in over a decade. The company faces increasing competition in the EV market from Chinese manufacturers and legacy automakers.
Tesla’s US market share has dropped significantly from its peak. Q4 2024 set a record for quarterly deliveries at 495,570 vehicles, but it wasn’t enough to offset earlier weakness.
Despite the sales dip, Tesla remains the most valuable automaker by market capitalization, worth more than Toyota and several other major automakers combined.
Mazda
The Japanese automaker sold around 1.3 million vehicles globally. Mazda occupies a niche position, focusing on driving dynamics and design rather than raw volume.
The company has been slower to electrify than competitors. Mazda’s US sales grew 17% in 2024 after a poor prior year.
Subaru
Subaru sold approximately 1.1 million vehicles, with the US accounting for the majority. The company has built a loyal following with its all-wheel-drive systems and focus on safety.
Subaru sales grew over 5% in 2024. The brand estimates it has around five million vehicles on US roads.
Tata Motors
India’s Tata Motors owns Jaguar Land Rover in addition to its domestic brands. The company has been transitioning toward electric vehicles and recently diversified its EV offerings.
Tata dominates India’s EV market and has been expanding Jaguar Land Rover’s electrification efforts. The company represents the growing importance of Indian manufacturers in the global automotive landscape.
The Road Ahead
Things look different today. Ten years back, who saw BYD or Geely stepping up?
Not many gave them a chance against the big names. Yet here they are – reshaping what car competition means.
Slowly but surely, their mark is set. Five firms from China sit among the world’s twenty largest sellers.
Facing heat to speed up electric shifts without losing money, old carmakers respond differently. A few now aim lower than before.
Several push harder instead. Today’s rankings?
They don’t tell the full picture. Speed of change does.
That 20th ranked carmaker used to assemble borrowed designs for India only. Number seven on the list – fifteen years back, it wasn’t even making cars.
Move too slow here, you lose ground fast.
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