Global automaker ranking sees shake-up: BYD drops out of top 10, Stellantis surprises with growth
In the first quarter of 2026, global new car registrations fell by 2%, while the list of top automakers saw major shifts – Chinese giant BYD saw a 30% sales decline, dropping it out of the top 10.
The global automotive market experienced a 2% year-on-year decline in new car registrations during the first three months of 2026. The ranking of the world's largest automakers underwent significant changes, reflecting the recovery of traditional players and a retreat by some Chinese companies.
Toyota maintained its lead despite a 1.4% sales drop to approximately 2.68 million units. Volkswagen Group took second place with a 3.9% decline, hampered by weaker performance in China. Hyundai–Kia Group ranked third with a modest 0.5% decrease, partly offset by Kia brand growth.
The biggest surprise came from Stellantis, which posted an 11.8% increase – the strongest performance among the top ten manufacturers. The growth was driven primarily by the Fiat and Ram brands. General Motors, meanwhile, recorded a 5.6% decline.
The most notable change involved Chinese automaker BYD, whose sales plummeted by 30%. The company fell from sixth to eleventh place, dropping out of the top ten. The main reason is fierce price competition in the Chinese domestic market. Geely Group benefited from this situation, overtaking BYD with 925,755 vehicles sold, becoming the world's largest Chinese automaker.
Overall, the global market share of Chinese brands decreased from 24.4% to 23.5%, potentially signaling a stabilization of the industry after several years of rapid growth. Other manufacturers in the top ten include Suzuki (+2.9%), Nissan (−4.9%), and Honda (−8.1%).
