
10 Best Chinese
Car Brands
China’s automotive industry leads the world in NEV innovation, production volume, and global expansion. Meet the brands reshaping mobility.
Total Cars Sold in China 2025
NEV Market Share
Vehicles Exported 2025
Domestic Brand Market Share
2025 Market Overview
China’s Auto Market at a Glance
Passenger Cars Sold
NEVs (BEV+PHEV+FCEV)
Year-on-Year Growth
NEV Sales Growth
China’s automotive landscape in 2025 is unlike anything the world has seen before. Domestic brands have seized nearly 69% of the market, NEVs have overtaken ICE vehicles for the first time, and global exports surged past 7 million units. Below, we rank the 10 most dominant Chinese car brands — each with its own story, flagship model, and place in history.
Top 10 Countdown
The Brands Driving China Forward
BYD (Build Your Dreams) is the undisputed king of Chinese EVs — and the world’s largest NEV manufacturer. Founded in Shenzhen as a battery company, BYD now commands 29% of China’s NEV market. Its proprietary Blade Battery and DM-i hybrid system set the industry standard for safety and efficiency.
4.6M units
~17% global
1995
🏆 Most Popular Model
Geely is China’s most ambitious private automaker — owning Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, and LEVC. In 2025 it surpassed its own targets with 3 million+ vehicles sold, driven by the Galaxy NEV sub-brand that grew over 200% year-on-year. Geely is the only traditional brand excelling in both ICE and NEV segments simultaneously.
3.0M units
+47% YoY
1986
🏆 Most Popular Model
Chery is China’s undisputed export champion. Nearly half of its annual sales come from international markets, making it the most globally distributed Chinese brand. Its Tiggo SUV series is a bestseller across South America, the Middle East, and Russia. In 2025, Chery doubled its overseas NEV deliveries, a 100%+ year-on-year leap.
2.6M units
~43% exports
1997
🏆 Most Popular Model
SAIC is the largest state-owned automaker and China’s most globally recognised brand through its MG marque. With retail deliveries of 2.2 million in H1 2025 alone, SAIC’s independent brands — including MG, Roewe, and IM Motors — now account for nearly 64% of total sales as JV reliance diminishes. MG leads SAIC’s EV export charge across Europe and Australia.
~4.1M units
1955
MG iconic
🏆 Most Popular Model
Changan is the oldest Chinese automaker, with roots tracing back to the Qing Dynasty in 1862. In 2025 it hit an eight-year sales high of 2.71 million units, powered by booming NEV growth (+49% YoY) and a diverse portfolio spanning the budget Kaicene to the luxury Avatr EV brand developed with Huawei and CATL. The CS75 series alone has topped 2.8 million cumulative sales.
2.71M units
+49% YoY
1862
🏆 Most Popular Model
Great Wall Motor dominates China’s off-road and premium SUV scene. The Haval, Tank, WEY, and ORA brands cater to everything from family SUVs to rugged adventurers. Its boxy SUV segment led all categories in June 2025 with 48,358 units sold. Despite a challenging year against NEV-focused rivals, GWM’s premium pivot is carving a distinct niche at the top of the market.
1.32M units
403K units
1984
🏆 Most Popular Model
FAW (First Automobile Works) is China’s original automaker — founded in 1953 under Mao Zedong with Soviet assistance. Today, it is home to the legendary Hongqi (Red Flag) luxury marque, China’s presidential car brand. In H1 2025, FAW delivered 1.57 million units with NEV sales nearly tripling, the highest NEV growth rate in the group’s history at +95.5% YoY.
1.57M H1 only
+95.5% YoY
1953
🏆 Most Popular Model
Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) is southern China’s powerhouse automaker. Its Aion EV brand is among the fastest-growing pure-electric labels in China, while the Trumpchi lineup serves the mainstream market. GAC also operates key joint ventures with Toyota and Honda, giving it unparalleled engineering exposure. Aion’s Hyper GT sports sedan has turned heads internationally.
~2.0M units
7% market
1997
🏆 Most Popular Model
Dongfeng (“East Wind”) is a foundational state-owned automaker with joint ventures spanning Nissan, Honda, and Stellantis. Its Voyah luxury EV sub-brand is gaining traction both domestically and in European markets. In 2025, Dongfeng saw export volume surge 30% YoY and partnered with Huawei to launch the new Yijing intelligent vehicle brand, signalling a premium tech pivot.
~2.4M units
+30% YoY
1969
🏆 Most Popular Model
Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. (BAIC) is best known for its strategic partnership with Mercedes-Benz (BBAC joint venture), which produces premium Benz models in China. Its ARCFOX EV brand exploded in 2025 with +211% YoY growth in H1. The upcoming Stelato S800, co-developed with Huawei and priced above ¥1 million, signals BAIC’s ambitions in the ultra-luxury EV space.
~1.5M units
+211% H1 YoY
1958
🏆 Most Popular Model
Data Sources & Notes: Sales figures sourced from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), and company press releases. 2025 full-year figures for some brands are estimates extrapolated from H1 2025 data and analyst projections. Prices in CAD, EUR, and GBP are approximate market equivalents converted from CNY MSRP and may vary by region, import duties, and trim level. Exchange rates used:
1 CNY ≈ 0.19 CAD · 0.13 EUR · 0.11 GBP (February 2026).
© 2025 Dardoor. All trademarks belong to their respective owners. This post is for informational purposes only.







