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The global automotive market is showing positive dynamics – in the first quarter of 2025, 20.97 million new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles were sold, up 3.1% year-on-year.
This was reported by Ukravtoprom with reference to the analytical platform Focus2move.
China is the unchanging leader
China remained the largest market, with 5.98 million vehicles sold, accounting for 28.5% of all global sales. Demand in the Middle Kingdom grew by 4.5%, reflecting a steady economic recovery and the dominance of Chinese manufacturers, including BYD, which recently announced the creation of a major European hub in Hungary.
| Country. | Car sold | Δ by Q1 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇳 China | 5.98 million | +4,5% |
| 🇺🇸 USA | 3.9 million | -2,7% |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 1.24 million | +13,8% |
| 🇮🇳 India | 1.18 million | +2,2% |
| 🇬🇧 UK | 668.5 thousand | -1,5% |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 662.5 thousand. | -4,4% |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | 532.7 thousand | +8,2% |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | 496.2 thousand | -2% |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 430.4 thousand | +6,3% |
| 🇫🇷 France | 407.3 thousand | -8,1% |
General trend
Despite local declines (particularly in France, Germany and the US), global demand for new cars continues to grow. Experts attribute this to the recovery of logistics, lower inflation and the expansion of the electric vehicle segment.
