Posted on 12/19/2025 8:34:02 PM PST by Red Badger
Bar chart showing the world’s best selling car brands in H1 2025
World’s Best Selling Car Brands in H1 2025
Key Takeaways
* Toyota remains the world’s best selling car brand, reaching 4.7 million units in the first half of 2025.
* BYD saw the fastest growth among major automakers and is projected by industry experts to overtake Ford by the end of 2025.
Global car sales continue to shift as legacy brands defend their share against fast-growing electric vehicle makers. In the first half of 2025, Toyota again led the global market by a wide margin, while several Asian automakers held strong positions across the top 15.
This visualization highlights how each automaker performed, comparing unit sales with annual growth rates.
A notable trend is the rise of Chinese manufacturers, especially BYD and Geely, which are expanding both domestically and internationally. Their rapid growth contrasts with declines seen among several established brands in Europe and Japan.
Data & Discussion
The data for this visualization comes from industry analyst Felipe Munoz, who compiles official manufacturer sales results and estimates for global light-vehicle markets. The numbers include both internal combustion and electric vehicles.
Toyota’s Dominant Global Lead
Toyota sold more than double the units of most competitors, reaching 4.73 million vehicles in H1 2025. This represents 6% year-over-year growth, reinforcing Toyota’s strength across markets from North America to Asia. Despite ongoing industry electrification, Toyota’s broad lineup and global production scale continue to support its leadership position.
BYD’s Rapid Climb Up the Rankings
BYD ranked fourth globally with just over 2 million units sold, but posted an impressive 31% annual increase, far outpacing every other major brand. At its current trajectory, industry experts expect BYD to surpass Ford by the end of 2025.
This momentum reflects China’s booming EV sector as well as BYD’s aggressive international expansion, particularly in Europe and Latin America.
Mixed Performance Across Legacy Automakers
Several established brands experienced declines, including Honda, Nissan, Mercedes, and Audi, each posting drops between 2% and 7%. European luxury brands also ceded share as demand softened in key markets. Meanwhile, Hyundai, Kia, and Chevrolet saw modest growth.
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We became a Toyota family after my daughter bought one and the thing lasted forever (almost).
Now each of us have bought one and they have been the best cars we’ve ever owned.
We’ve always had either Hondas or Toyotas. Both have been very reliable brands.
I don’t see Stellantis on that list. For good reason.
I’m satisfied with my Honda.
I owned mostly Hondas over the years,which were great cars. I have an old Toyota Camry now I’ve had for the last 6 years and it is better than all the Hondas I had, much to my surprise.
FTA: ...”legacy brands defend their share against fast-growing electric vehicle makers.”
Am I missing the trend, or are they ?
You might say BYD’s growth has been explosive!
tesla appears to be a much smaller player. they’re not even on the list.
Thanks for posting. BYD? Interesting. I’ve had good experiences with Hondas and some Toyotas. I have a Honda, my wife a Chevy. Kids and grandkids Honda, VW, Audi.
We are a FORD Family and we just bought a beautiful BRANCo.
They got that I-4 head gasket issue fixed with the 2.4 l in the Camry. All my 1.8 I-4 yes had leaky head gaskets at 180,000. I could see them up using bar stop leak but I finally said the heck with it and got an I-4 Camry and it’s been perfect with 242,000 on it. It’s a 2009.
I have a Genesis I like, but I loved my Honda. kept it 17 years and after I sold it, wanted it back.
My wife and I drive a 2017 Toyota Sienna minivan and a 2012 Honda Odyssey minivan. Our son still drives our previous 2005 Toyota Sienna minivan ( with 285,000 miles on it and AC still ice cold). Outstanding vehicles for comfort, longevity, and reliability.
Have owned 3 Corollas, 2 Tacomas, 1 4Runner, all for different purposes & reasons. Still have a 2003 Corolla with 60k miles. All have been just great cars!
We are looking for a car now and Genesis is on the list. I really wanted a Lexus SUV but they can be hard to find here.
We became a Toyota family three years ago after my youngest son survived a head-on collision in his 2019 Toyota Corolla when a drunk driver in a Ford F150 crossed over into his lane at 60mph, hitting him head-on.
When the police arrived on the scene, they assumed my son was dead when they saw his car and didn't even bother looking inside. The entire car crumpled around him. Inside the air bags did their job and not only saved his life, he managed to get out on his own with a few bruised ribs and a small cut on his face from one of the airbags.
With the exception of all ten airbags deploying, the cabin of his Corolla was virtually untouched by the collision.
When he finally got out of the vehicle, again, somehow on his own and without any assistance from the stupid, incompetent Tennessee State Police, he stood by the vehicle and waited for them. When they finally saw him standing there, they were shocked.
When the tow truck driver arrived to haul both vehicles away, he flat-out told my son that were it any other vehicle than a Toyota, he'd have been killed. He had just come from another accident where a woman died in her Ford Fusion from a far less severe accident than his.
I thank God and Toyota Engineers for my youngest son still being with us.
I bought my 2023 Toyota Tacoma TRD OffRoad two months later, and made my oldest son get rid of the Hyundai SantaFe Limited I bought for him to get a Toyota also.
Don't see myself ever owning any other vehicle than a Toyota going forward.
Beat me to it! I've seen the video's on YouTube of hundreds of them parked in Chinese junkyards with no physical damage apparent, when one or more of them just spontaneously combust.
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