Global auto market hits 90.5M sales in 2025, China leads growth
2025 global auto sales reach 90.5 million, led by China and India
Global auto market hits 90.5M sales in 2025, China leads growth
Global auto sales rose 4.1% to 90.5 million units in 2025, with China leading at 27.3M. India overtook Japan, while EV demand boosted markets like the UK.
2026-01-31T14:47:26+03:00
2026-01-31T14:47:26+03:00
2026-01-31T14:47:26+03:00
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.
global auto market, 2025 car sales, China auto sales, India auto market, electric vehicles, automotive industry, new car sales, passenger vehicles, light commercial vehicles, market growth, top auto markets, NEV incentives
2026
Michael Powers
news
2025 global auto sales reach 90.5 million, led by China and India
Global auto sales rose 4.1% to 90.5 million units in 2025, with China leading at 27.3M. India overtook Japan, while EV demand boosted markets like the UK.
Michael Powers, Editor
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.
