Do Chinese brands produce more than Japanese brands?
- Automotive production (passenger cars and light utility vehicles ) by Asian brands, primarily Japanese, Chinese, and Korean, has been generally increasing since 2014, now representing 56% of global automotive production, compared to 55% in 2024, 54% in 2023, 51% in 2022, 50% in 2021, 49% in 2020, 48% in 2018, 47% in 2016, and 46% in 2014. These Japanese, Chinese, and Korean brands will exceed 50 million vehicles produced for the first time in 2025, whereas they produced fewer than 40 million in 2010. Note: Chinese brands are defined as brands of Chinese origin or under Chinese control. The same applies to Japanese and Korean brands.
- Japanese brands currently produce more vehicles than all Chinese brands combined, but the gap between Japanese and Chinese brands has been narrowing year by year since 2021, reaching only 4 million units in 2025, compared to 6 million in 2024, 10 million in 2023, 12 million in 2022, and 14 million in 2021. Furthermore, Japanese automotive production appears to have been declining since 2023, while Chinese production has been steadily increasing since 2020. It could therefore surpass Japanese production in 2027 or 2028. As for Korean production, it has remained stable for about ten years, albeit at a much lower level.
- It is interesting to note that Chinese brands also experienced a degree of stability between 2010 and 2020, contrary to popular belief. The significant growth these brands have seen only began in 2021, thanks to the substantial development of battery electric vehicles marketed by Chinese carmakers.