Toyota remained the world’s largest automaker in 2025, selling 11,322,575 vehicles. BYD sold 4,602,436, putting it just 47,564 vehicles behind Ford and highlighting how rapidly competition is changing as electric vehicles gain ground.
Figures cited from F&I Tools, OICA and Focus2Move show a market shaped by both established global manufacturers and companies expanding quickly in electric vehicles. Toyota led the rankings by a wide margin, while BYD’s near-parity with Ford marked one of the closest contests among the top 10.
Top 10 automakers by 2025 vehicle sales
The rankings below lists manufacturers by the reported sales figures. Stellantis’ figure is stated as 5.6 million vehicles.
1. Toyota: 11,322,575 vehicles
2. Volkswagen: 8,983,978 vehicles
3. Hyundai-Kia: 7,272,453 vehicles
4. General Motors: 6,183,928 vehicles
5. Stellantis: 5,600,000 vehicles
6. Ford: 4,650,000 vehicles
7. BYD: 4,602,436 vehicles
8. Honda: 3,521,905 vehicles
9. Suzuki: 3,295,013 vehicles
10. Nissan: 3,202,137 vehicles
How close were BYD and Ford in 2025?
Ford sold 4,650,000 vehicles, while BYD sold 4,602,436. The difference was 47,564 vehicles, leaving BYD in seventh place, narrowly behind Ford in sixth. The close result illustrates how a fast-growing electric vehicle manufacturer can challenge the sales position of a long-established automaker.
How far ahead was Toyota?
Toyota outsold Volkswagen, the second-place manufacturer, by 2,338,597 vehicles. Toyota’s total exceeded 11.3 million, compared with Volkswagen’s approximately 9 million. Hyundai-Kia ranked third with more than 7.2 million sales, while General Motors and Stellantis completed the top five.
What the rankings reveal about the auto industry
The figures show two developments happening at once: established manufacturers continue to command enormous sales volumes, and electric vehicle-focused companies are gaining ground. BYD’s sales placed it among the world’s largest automakers and brought it close to Ford’s total. Investments in batteries and electric vehicle production have helped reshape competition, although the rankings measure total vehicle sales rather than electric vehicle sales alone.
Toyota held a substantial lead at the top, but the narrow gap between Ford and BYD made the middle of the table particularly competitive. The 2025 figures therefore reflect both the continuing scale of traditional automakers and the growing influence of companies built around electric mobility.
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