Who runs China’s auto market: BYD, Geely, Chery, Changan
China’s auto market can look chaotic, but a new study by Felipe Muñoz makes clear who really calls the shots. SPEEDME.RU reviewed the analyst’s report and found that the four biggest groups — BYD, Geely, Chery, and Changan — account for 56% of all sales. BYD owns Denza, YangWang, and Fang Cheng Bao. Geely controls Zeekr, Volvo, Lotus, Polestar, Smart, Lynk & Co, and others. Chery includes Omoda, Jaecoo, Exeed, and Jetour, while Changan is developing Avatr, Deepal, and Nevo. The takeaway is simple: the center of gravity sits with these four homegrown conglomerates.
Beyond this big four, SAIC (MG, Roewe, IM), BAIC (Arcfox, Foton, Stelato), Dongfeng (Voyah, Venucia, MHero), and JAC also hold strong ground. At the same time, dozens of startups such as Nio, Xpeng, Xiaomi, Li Auto, and Leapmotor remain independent for now, yet they are feeling the squeeze from the giants. For anyone watching the market, that pressure is hard to miss.
In a separate “brand pyramid,” the study ranks 109 marques by status: from premium names like Hongqi and YangWang to budget players such as Sinogold and Pocco that risk disappearing. Experts believe that over the next ten years many lesser-known brands will be absorbed or shut down, while Chinese automakers themselves will keep strengthening their position on the global stage. Taken together, it feels less like a snapshot and more like a roadmap for consolidation.