Chinese automakers BYD and Geely have secured the 7th and 8th positions respectively among the world's top 10 carmakers in the first half of 2025, surpassing established foreign giants like Honda and Nissan for the first time, according to data from Shanghai-based business media outlet Yicai.
The Chinese brands demonstrated remarkable growth momentum with BYD recording a 33% year-on-year sales increase and Geely achieving 29% growth in the January-June period, making them the only two carmakers in the global top 10 to post double-digit growth rates.
Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association, attributed this success to robust domestic demand and solid export performance, with China exporting 3.48 million vehicles in the first half of 2025, representing an 18% year-on-year increase.
New energy vehicle exports particularly excelled with 1.42 million units exported, marking a 41% surge year-on-year and accounting for 41% of total exports, with plug-in hybrid models leading the charge with 390,000 units exported - a dramatic 210% increase.
Zhang Hong, senior NEV industry expert at the China Automobile Dealers Association, credits Chinese automakers' vertical integration capabilities, from in-house batteries to semiconductors, and advanced plug-in and range-extended technologies for enabling cost control and performance gains that benefit global consumers.
