Ranked: The World’s Top 30 Countries, by Automobiles Manufactured

Visual Capitalist ^ | 12/27/2024 | Kayla Zhu

[SeekAndFind]

Last year, global vehicle production reached 93.5 million units, representing a 2% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019 and a significant 17% rise from 2022.

This graphic, via Visual Capitalist's Kayla Zhu, visualizes the share of motor vehicles produced by the top 30 countries in 2023.

The figures come from the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, and includes both passenger and commercial vehicles.

Which Country Produced the Most Cars in 2023?

Below, we show the total number of motor vehicles produced by each of the top 30 countries, as well as their share of global production.

Rank	Country/Region	Region	Total Car Production	Share of Total Production
1	🇨🇳 China	Asia	30,160,966	32.2%
2	🇺🇸 USA	Americas	10,611,555	11.3%
3	🇯🇵 Japan	Asia	8,997,440	9.6%
4	🇮🇳 India	Asia	5,851,507	6.3%
5	🇰🇷 South Korea	Asia	4,243,597	4.5%
6	🇩🇪 Germany	Europe	4,109,371	4.4%
7	🇲🇽 Mexico	Americas	4,002,047	4.3%
8	🇪🇸 Spain	Europe	2,451,221	2.6%
9	🇧🇷 Brazil	Americas	2,324,838	2.5%
10	🇹🇭 Thailand	Asia	1,841,663	2.0%
11	🇨🇦 Canada	Americas	1,553,026	1.7%
12	🇫🇷 France	Europe	1,505,076	1.6%
13	🇹🇷 Turkey	Asia	1,468,393	1.6%
14	🇨🇿 Czech Republic	Europe	1,404,501	1.5%
15	🇮🇩 Indonesia	Asia	1,395,717	1.5%
16	🇸🇰 Slovakia	Europe	1,080,000	1.2%
17	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	Europe	1,025,474	1.1%
18	🇮🇹 Italy	Europe	880,085	0.9%
19	🇲🇾 Malaysia	Asia	774,600	0.8%
20	🇷🇺 Russia	Europe	729,864	0.8%
21	🇿🇦 South Africa	Africa	633,337	0.7%
22	🇵🇱 Poland	Europe	612,882	0.7%
23	🇦🇷 Argentina	Americas	610,725	0.7%
24	🇲🇦 Morocco	Africa	535,825	0.6%
25	🇷🇴 Romania	Europe	513,050	0.5%
26	🇭🇺 Hungary	Europe	507,225	0.5%
27	🇺🇿 Uzbekistan	Asia	425,876	0.5%
28	🇧🇪 Belgium	Europe	332,103	0.4%
29	🇵🇹 Portugal	Europe	318,231	0.3%
30	🌍 Others	-	2,646,404	2.8%

China dominated global car production in 2023, accounting for almost a third of all cars produced last year. The country currently produces and exports more cars than any other country in the world, as of December 2024.

The country currently has the capacity to produce more than twice its domestic demand for cars, freeing up a significant portion of its car production to be allocated for export.

The Chinese government has massively invested in ramping up domestic automotive production, and specifically its burgeoning electric vehicle sector.

The government’s strategic initiatives, such as “Made in China 2025,” have prioritized electric vehicle manufacturing, leading to substantial growth in this area.

The Best of the Rest

Following behind China is the United States, with 11.3% of the global share. Elon Musk’s Tesla is currently the most valuable automaker in the world, with a market cap of over $1.4 trillion, as of Dec. 24, 2024.

Tesla shares hit a record high following Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election. The American electric vehicle company dominates the industry, representing nearly half of the market capitalization among global automakers, with a valuation exceeding the combined worth of the next 29 car manufacturers.

Japan ranks third at 9.6% of global car production, bolstered by legacy carmakers like Toyota and Honda.

To learn more about global car production, check out this graphic that breaks down the global battery electric vehicle (BEV) industry by automaker.

[Celtic Conservative]

And I’ve read from the sources that weren’t bought by China their cars are crap. Or at least the ones they sell to their own people. The export models may be marginally better.

CC

[BobL]

So China is now almost triple our car production? I guess I’m supposed to believe that’s all fake too, at least based on WW3 crowd claims about China (being a Third World country, etc.).

[FrankRizzo890]

If you want to know about the Chinese cars, here's a good video from an impartial reviewer (Doug Demuro). Chinese car review

[Getready]

Wonder how many of the cars made in Japan,S. Korea, Canada,England, Mexico, Romania, Hungary, Poland, Sweden, and Germany are sold in USA.
American Union members need to be careful , they could be losing their jobs when foreign car manufacturers increase their manufacturing numbers. The auto makers would be left holding all the money, and the USA car workers would be unemployed. Law of diminishing returns...It might be attractive for the workers to move to a different country.

[sushiman]

How the UK has fallen . Only 1 million + cars ? I’m old enough to remember MGs , Triumphs , Austin-Healeys , Hillmans , Austins , Jaguars , etc...cruising the street in front of our house when I was a kid .

[Gay State Conservative]

I’ll walk before I own a Chinese made car. I’ll walk...or swim...before I fly in a Chinese made plane.

[wjcsux]

“How the UK has fallen . Only 1 million + cars ? I’m old enough to remember MGs , Triumphs , Austin-Healeys , Hillmans , Austins , Jaguars , etc...cruising the street in front of our house when I was a kid .”
Yeah me too.

[redfreedom]

I too remember those British cars running around our area as a kid. Also I think there were one or two motorcycles made in the UK that were popular. I do recall they were horribly unreliable and maintenance heavy.

A friend had an MG and the electrical department often had quirks to content with. And the cylinder head required scheduled removal for decarbonizing.

I think the Japanese cars were very reliable which likely pushed the Brit sales down to nothing.

[oldtech]

Seems like there is usually a dark side to Chinese products. I don’t think I’d ever own a Chinese car, but admittedly have a few low cost Chinese products that work quite well. But i don’t want any of their cars & certainly not a Chinese EV.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: The export models may be marginally better.

There was a time when the label MADE IN JAPAN was synonymous with inferior quality be it in electronics or cars. Not anymore.

There used to be a time when Taiwan and South Korea had the same reputation as Japan.

Now, Taiwan makes nearly 2/3 of all chips running every single gadget, phone and cars in the world.

Whether China will evolve like Japan, Taiwan or even South Korea remains to be seen.

[Gay State Conservative]

I avoid Chinese made products whenever possible. I do it because of quality concerns *and* because I know that a portion of every penny I spend on Chinese products goes to Red China's military...which is the single biggest threat to world civilization today.

As for cars and planes....I'd have *absolutely* no confidence that it was designed *or* built to reasonable standards.So I'd fear for my safety.

[Celtic Conservative]

From what I’ve seen the Chinese like to take “shortcuts” in manufacturing. Combine that with a almost pathological amorality and I’d take a pass on Chinese cars.

CC

[sushiman]

British bikes one would often see were Triumph , Norton and BSA .

[Sirius Lee]

There was a time when the label MADE IN JAPAN was synonymous with inferior quality be it in electronics or cars. Not anymore.

I suspect that my FJs, made in Japan, will outlast my newer (2019) Tundra that was made in San Antonio.