14:47 31-01-2026

2025 global auto sales reach 90.5 million, led by China and India

The global auto market finished 2025 on a high note, with sales of new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles reaching 90.5 million units across 92 countries. That's a 4.1% increase over the previous year. This growth came despite a price war in China, trade tensions between the U.S. and Europe, and a fading recovery in EU markets.

Looking at country-level statistics, Italy held onto 10th place among the largest markets with 1.714 million cars sold, even though volume dipped by 2.4%. A low share of electric vehicles and weakness at Stellantis continue to weigh on demand. Canada came in ninth with 1.897 million units, up 2.3%, followed by France. France was the only top-10 market to see a deep decline, with sales of 1.993 million marking a 5.1% drop and hitting a half-century low.

The UK market improved to 2.336 million units, a 1.4% gain, helped by demand for EVs. Brazil grew to 2.551 million, up 2.9%, amid better macroeconomic conditions and an influx of Chinese brands. Germany remained in fifth place with 3.153 million units, a modest 0.6% increase that underscores the stagnation in European demand.

Japan took fourth place with 4.566 million units, a 3.3% rise, where kei-cars make up 37% of the market and a recovery at Daihatsu supported the result. India moved into third place for the first time, with 5.54 million units sold—a 5.9% increase—overtaking Japan thanks to a growing middle class and local production.

The U.S. kept its second-place position with 16.28 million units, up 2.2% despite tariff turbulence. China again led the pack as the absolute leader, with 27.3 million cars sold, a 6.7% jump driven by aggressive pricing and incentives for the NEV segment.