In 2025, China's automotive industry witnessed a historic breakthrough: Chinese vehicle manufacturers surpassed Japanese automakers in global sales for the first time. According to S&P Global Mobility, Chinese automakers are expected to sell about 27 million vehicles throughout the year, while the sales of Japanese automakers are slightly less than 25 million. This figure encompasses both passenger and commercial vehicles, covering domestic sales and exports, while taking into account the statistical methods of enterprise ownership and brand affiliation. It is worth noting that the joint venture production of Japanese automobiles in China (such as Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, etc.) is all included in the sales volume in Japan based on brand ownership, making the actual statistics slightly biased towards Japan. However, even so, China has still surpassed Japan.

2025年,中国汽车产业迎来了历史性突破:中国整车制造商在全球销量上首次超过日本汽车厂商。根据S&P Global Mobility的数据,中国汽车企业全年预计销售约2700万辆车辆,而日本汽车企业的销量略低于2500万辆。这一数字包括乘用车和商用车,涵盖国内销售及出口,同时考虑了企业所有权和品牌归属的统计方法。值得注意的是,日本汽车在中国的合资生产(如丰田、日产、三菱等)均按品牌归属计入日本销量,使得实际统计略显偏向日本,但即便如此,中国依然实现了对日本的超越。



The domestic market in China remains the core driving force, with approximately 70% of sales coming from it, and it is expected to increase to 90% by 2030. New energy vehicles (electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles and extended-range electric vehicles) have accounted for more than 60% of China's passenger vehicle sales, becoming an important factor driving the growth of the industry. Industry reports show that brands such as BYD, Geely and Chery have rapidly risen in global sales rankings and entered the top ten.
中国国内市场仍是核心驱动力,约70%的销量来自国内市场,并预计到2030年将提升至90%。新能源汽车(电动车、插电式混合动力车和增程电动车)在中国乘用车销售中占比已超过60%,成为拉动行业增长的重要因素。行业报告显示,比亚迪、吉利、奇瑞等品牌在全球销量排名迅速上升,跻身前十。

In overseas markets, the growth rate of China's auto exports is remarkable. The Southeast Asian market has long been dominated by Japanese brands, but in recent years, the share of Chinese electric vehicles has grown rapidly. A large number of Chinese new energy vehicles can already be seen on the roads in places like Bali. It is expected that by 2025, Chinese auto sales in Europe will reach approximately 230,000 units, achieving a growth of over 100%. In the African and Latin American markets, sales rose to 230,000 and 540,000 units respectively, with growth rates both exceeding 30%.
在海外市场,中国汽车出口增速显著。东南亚市场长期由日本品牌主导,但近年来中国电动车的份额迅速增长,巴厘岛等地的道路上已能看到大量中国新能源汽车。预计2025年中国汽车在欧洲销售将达到约23万辆,实现超过100%的增长;在非洲和拉美市场,销量分别增长至23万辆和54万辆,增幅均超过30%。

In contrast, Japanese automakers have seen a decline in sales in key markets such as the United States, and their market share in China has gradually been eroded by local enterprises. This trend indicates that the global automotive industry landscape is undergoing profound changes. The wave of electrification and the rise of "Made in China" may enable China to take the leading position in the global automotive industry within the next 15 years, exerting a far-reaching impact on the Western automotive industry and employment.
相比之下,日本汽车厂商在美国等关键市场销量下滑,且在中国市场的份额逐渐被本土企业蚕食。这一趋势表明,全球汽车产业格局正发生深刻变化,电动化浪潮和中国制造的崛起可能在未来15年内使中国占据全球汽车产业主导地位,对西方汽车工业及就业带来深远影响。