On March 21, a report from the Nihon Keizai Shimbun website revealed a significant milestone: In 2025, Japanese automakers' cumulative global sales hit around 25 million vehicles, relinquishing their top position for the first time since the turn of the millennium. In contrast, Chinese automakers soared to approximately 27 million vehicles in cumulative global sales, clinching the world's number one spot for the first time. Notably, BYD outperformed Ford, securing the sixth position globally, and surpassed Tesla in the pure electric vehicle segment to emerge as the world leader. Geely Auto, too, outstripped Honda, claiming the eighth spot. Among the top 20 automakers in global sales, six hail from China, eclipsing Japan's five.
