World's best selling cars? Tesla on the list?

BYD until recently was a battery manufacturer. They didn't start building cars until 20 years ago.

Geely wasn't in the auto business at all until they purchased Volvo back in 2010. Their first EV car came off the line only 6 years ago. They are now the 2nd largest global seller of EVs ahead of Tesla.

Both companies are Chinese. Didn't take long for these guys to learn, innovate and surpass.

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.

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.