Gitnux/Report 2026

Auto Car Industry Statistics

The global auto industry produced 96.4M vehicles in 2025, explore how companies and software-driven shifts track growth and electrification.
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November 11, 2026Updated
Auto Car Industry Statistics
Samuel NorbergWritten by Samuel Norberg·Fact-checked by Maya Johansson
Published ·Updated
How this report is researched
01Editorial Scope

Before any source is gathered, an editor locks the question, what qualifies, and how the piece will be judged.

02Source Research

Search agents collect the source set and pull each data point out with its provenance attached.

Read our full methodology →

Search agents attach provenance to every extracted figure.

Next review: within 31 days

01 Industry overview

The auto car industry at a glance

The global auto industry returned to growth in 2025, producing 96.4 million vehicles while electric cars reached more than 20 million sales, or one in four new cars.

96.4M[22]
Vehicles produced, 2025
99.8M[22]
Vehicles sold, 2025
23M[24]
EV sales forecast, 2026
35.8%[22]
China share of global production, 2025
Market size
Global vehicle sales reached 99.8 million units in 2025, up 4.7% from 95.3 million in 2024. Global production reached 96.4 million units, up 3.9% year on year.[22]
Forecast & CAGR
The IEA forecasts global electric-car sales of 23 million in 2026, compared with more than 20 million in 2025. This implies approximately 15% year-on-year growth, while the expected electric share rises to 28% of total car sales in 2026.[24]
Market share & regions
Asia-Pacific accounted for more than 61% of global vehicle production in 2025, at around 59.2 million vehicles. Asia, Oceania and the Middle East represented more than 55% of global vehicle sales, while China alone produced 34.53 million vehicles, or about 35.8% of the world total.[22]
Segmentation
Electric cars exceeded 20 million global sales in 2025 and represented 25% of new-car sales. Large cars and SUVs accounted for almost 70% of global electric-car sales, while battery-electric vehicles represented 65% of electric-car sales.[24]
Key players & concentration
China produced 34.53 million vehicles in 2025, making it the largest national production base. China also accounted for nearly 75% of global electric-car production, showing that the EV manufacturing segment is substantially more concentrated than the wider vehicle industry.[22][24]
Pricing
In Europe, manufacturers introduced more affordable electric models and adjusted pricing strategies in 2025 to comply with tighter CO2 standards. Reliable global average new-vehicle pricing data covering 2025 or 2026 was not identified.[24]
Trends, drivers & challenges
Electrification, tighter emissions rules and lower EV costs are the main growth drivers. The industry also faces regional policy changes, trade barriers, weaker Chinese demand in some segments and intense competition that is squeezing Chinese EV manufacturers’ margins.[24]
Consumer behavior & competition
Electric cars reached 25% of global new-car sales in 2025, but adoption varied sharply by market: the United States remained below 10%, Europe exceeded 4 million electric-car sales, and China generated more than half of the global increase. Large cars and SUVs accounted for almost 70% of global EV sales.[24]
M&A
Automotive consolidation continued in components and commercial vehicles. American Axle announced a $1.44 billion cash-and-share combination with Dowlais in January 2025, while Mahindra agreed to acquire a 58.96% controlling stake in SML Isuzu for INR 555 crore.[89][90]
Regulation
Regulation is accelerating the shift to electric vehicles: the IEA expects EVs to reach 28% of global car sales in 2026, while European CO2 standards supported a 30% rise in European electric-car sales in 2025 to more than 4 million units.[24]
Latest news
As of November 10, 2026, the latest industry developments include Tesla’s plan to wind down Cybertruck production by mid-2027 to expand Cybercab manufacturing and a U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration probe into 1.2 million Ford vehicles over an airbag issue.[91]

02 Ranking

Top 10 Companies in the Auto Car Industry

The leading companies in the auto car industry, ranked on market impact, performance, momentum, innovation and brand popularity.

Updated November 10, 2026 · Next review December 10, 2026

Verdict

Geely Holding Group stands out for passenger cars, EVs and commercial vehicles at multi-million-unit scale because it sold more than 4.11 million vehicles across its portfolio in 2025, while Toyota Motor Corporation focuses on passenger cars and commercial vehicles since it produced 9.05 million vehicles in fiscal 2025.

Ranked by Overall score · How we score ↓

Editor's top 3 picks

Where to start, by need.

  1. #1 Overall · Leader in commercial vehicle manufacturing

    Geely Holding Group

    CN

    Ranked #1 · 9.1 · Commercial vehicle manufacturing

    Why we picked it: It sells passenger cars, EVs and commercial vehicles at multi-million-unit scale across its portfolio in 2025.

    See in ranking ↓Visit geely.com ↗

  2. #2 overall

    Toyota Motor Corporation

    JP

    Ranked #2 · 8.8 · Commercial vehicle manufacturing

    Why we picked it: It operates at large global production and sales volumes in passenger cars and commercial vehicles, with revenue growth of 6.5%.

    See in ranking ↓Visit toyota.com ↗

  3. Leader in EV manufacturing

    Tesla

    US

    Ranked #5 · 8.5 · EV manufacturing

    Why we picked it: It concentrates on electric passenger vehicles and energy systems, delivering 1.64 million vehicles in 2025.

    See in ranking ↓Visit tesla.com ↗

Pick 1 is the #1 company overall. Pick 2 is the highest-ranked company in the top 5 that adds a new segment; no further segment places in the top 5, so pick 3 follows rank.

Full ranking

Sort by
Top 10 companies in the auto car industry, 2026 – Gitnux ranking
#CompanyOverall ↓Company snapshot
1

Geely Holding Group

Commercial vehicle manufacturing · CN

9.1
2

Toyota Motor Corporation

Commercial vehicle manufacturing · JP

8.8
3

Mahindra & Mahindra

Commercial vehicle manufacturing · IN

8.7
4

General Motors

Commercial vehicle manufacturing · US

8.7
5

Tesla

EV manufacturing · US

8.5
6

Volkswagen Group

Passenger cars, commercial vehicles and mobility · DE

8.5
7

Hyundai Motor Group

Passenger cars, commercial vehicles and mobility · KR

8.5
8

BYD

Electric and hybrid passenger vehicles · CN

8.5
9

BMW Group

Premium cars, motorcycles and mobility · DE

8.4
10

Stellantis

Passenger cars, trucks, vans and commercial vehicles · NL

8.2

How we score

  • Impact (30%): scale and weight in the market (revenue, market share, employees, market position).
  • Performance (20%): recent revenue growth and operating margin; an analyst assessment where a company does not publish them.
  • Momentum (20%): growth trajectory and future potential.
  • Innovation (15%): R&D intensity and how technologically advanced the company is.

Popularity (brand search demand, 15%) counts toward Overall but is not published as a column. Overall leaves out what is not known.

Scale Scores are shown on a 7–10 scale with one decimal; bars start at 7.0.

Cadence Recalculated when new figures are published; next review December 10, 2026.

Independence. Rankings are editorially independent. Scores, ranks, picks and the verdict follow the method above; no company can pay to change them.

Cite this ranking

APA

Samuel Norberg. (2026, November 10). Top 10 companies in the auto car industry. In Auto Car Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/auto-car-industry-statistics/#top-companies

report visual · Comparison

Revenue of the largest auto car companies

Volkswagen Group leads with $347.7B in annual revenue (group level, converted to USD).

Volkswagen Group$347.7B
Toyota Motor Corporation$321.8B
General Motors$185.0B
Stellantis$165.8B
BMW Group$144.1B
source-verifiedannualreport2025.volkswagen-group.com · global.toyota · investor.gm.com · stellantis.com · bmwgroup.com2025

04 Statistics

Technology & Innovation

AI and connected-vehicle data show up in design and operations: 71% report AI or machine learning affecting product design, while only 40% had an automated pipeline by 2026.

AI in the auto car industry

  • 71% of automotive respondents say AI or machine learning affects vehicle product design, including 24% reporting extensive use and 47% partial integration.[1]
  • 220.6 million rider-only miles had been driven by Waymo vehicles without a human driver through March 2026.[2]
  • 43% of automotive companies had implemented or were implementing generative-AI solutions in 2024.[3]
  • 81% of automotive organizations collect connected-vehicle telemetry, but only 40% have an automated pipeline linking collection, insight generation, validation and deployment.[4]
  • $2.6 billion was the projected generative-AI spending by automotive companies in 2024.[3]
  • 28% of automotive companies reported that their board of directors was the primary policymaker for AI in 2024.[3]

Automation in the auto car industry

  • 30,650 industrial robots were installed in the European Union automotive industry in 2024, down 5% year on year.[5]
  • 47% of industrial robot installations in Canada in 2024 were made by the car industry.[5]
  • 19,200 industrial robots were installed in North American car manufacturing in 2024.[5]
  • About 13,000 industrial robots were installed in Japan’s automotive industry in 2024, up 11% year on year.[5]
  • 45% of industrial robot installations in India in 2024 went to the automotive industry.[5]
  • 63% of industrial robot installations in Mexico in 2024 were made by the automotive industry.[5]

Digital Transformation in the automotive sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across automotive manufacturing, technology investment rose 35% year over year, from 23% to 31% of operating budgets, in 2024.[6]
  • Across automotive, 36% of executives said their company is entering a phase of deep transformation affecting business models, products and operations over the next three years in 2025.[7]
  • Across automotive, 47% of companies use AI and other advanced technologies today, a share expected to reach 72% by 2030, according to executives surveyed in 2026.[8]
  • Across automotive, 52% of executives said continuous transformation is now the industry norm rather than a program with an end date in 2026.[7]

Technology Adoption in the automotive sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across automotive manufacturing, 56% identified quality control as an AI application, while 45% identified process optimization and 45% robotics in 2025.[6]
  • Across automotive manufacturing, 48% of surveyed companies were not using AI in production in 2024, while 18% used it for supplier search.[9]
  • Across automotive, 86% of companies reported investing heavily in AI and emerging technologies in 2025.[10]
  • Across automotive, only 36% of AI and software initiatives had scaled beyond pilot stage and been adopted across the organization in 2026.[7]

Cloud Computing in the automotive sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across midsize automotive businesses, 39.8% cited cloud migration as a priority for simplification and process improvement, compared with 37.8% across industries, in the reported study.[11]
  • Across automotive and manufacturing organizations, 10% described themselves as cloud-evolved, the most advanced cloud-adoption category, in 2026.[12]
  • Across automotive OEMs and suppliers, 67% reported cloud spending below 1% of annual revenue in the 2022 study.[13]
  • Across automotive OEMs and suppliers, 44% reported that 50%–74% of infrastructure was in the cloud in the 2022 study.[13]

Big Data in the automotive sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across automotive manufacturers, 76% viewed manufacturing analytics as very or extremely valuable in the 2021 smart-manufacturing survey.[14]
  • Across automotive executives, 81% reported collecting connected-vehicle telemetry, while 40% had an automated pipeline linking data collection, insights, validation and deployment in 2026.[4]
  • Across automotive businesses, 50.8% prioritized new or updated analytics products and decision-making tools to simplify work and processes in the reported study.[11]
  • 28% of automotive survey respondents have invested in predictive maintenance systems, according to a 2025 global automotive industry survey.[15]
  • 36% of automotive manufacturers say industry leaders use collected data for artificial intelligence, applied AI, generative AI or machine learning, globally in 2024.[6]
  • 30% of automotive survey respondents have implemented AI-supported real-time factory analytics, according to a 2025 global automotive industry survey.[15]

05 Statistics

Data & Analytics

Data governance and analytics maturity remain uneven, with 40% of automotive manufacturers having a data-governance framework for data flow, access control and retention.

Business intelligence in the auto car industry

  • 20% of automotive executives expected AI to deliver its greatest productivity or cost benefits in marketing and sales in 2025.[10]
  • 46% of automotive executives expected AI to deliver its greatest productivity or cost benefits in supply-chain management and logistics in 2025.[10]
  • 51% of automotive executives expected software and digital technologies to become their companies’ primary source of competitive advantage by 2035.[7]
  • 23% of automotive executives expected AI to deliver its greatest productivity or cost benefits in aftersales, including predictive maintenance, in 2025.[10]
  • 38% of automotive executives expected AI to deliver its greatest productivity or cost benefits in production and manufacturing in 2025.[10]
  • 15% of automotive executives expected AI to deliver its greatest productivity or cost benefits in finance and accounting in 2025.[10]

Data analytics in the auto car industry

  • 75% of automotive OEMs were experimenting with AI-driven quality analytics in 2025.[16]
  • 380 to 5,100 terabytes of data per year were estimated for connected cars, depending on vehicle capabilities and usage.[17]
  • 25% of the European vehicle parc had at least basic connectivity as of 2024, enabling remote diagnostics and data-driven services.[18]
  • $58 billion in warranty-related costs were incurred globally by the automotive industry in 2024, equal to roughly 2.2% of industry sales.[16]
  • 25 gigabytes of data per hour were reported as generated by a modern connected vehicle in an automotive aftermarket analysis.[16]
  • 100% of new vehicles sold in Europe included at least entry-level connectivity features as of 2024.[18]

Data Quality in the automotive sector (sector benchmark)

  • 5% of automotive firms fully use 76–100% of their collected data, according to the 2025 global automotive manufacturing survey.[6]
  • 30% of tier-one and tier-two automotive suppliers use real-time statistical process-control software, while 12% run software checks manually, in a 2021 survey.[19]
  • 68% of automotive respondents identify data and technology adoption as a priority, according to Hexagon’s 2025 advanced manufacturing survey.[20]
  • 57% of automotive quality leaders estimate total quality costs exceed 5% of revenue, based on a 2026 survey of 65 leaders.[21]
  • 55% of tier-one and tier-two automotive suppliers still conduct capability studies in Excel, based on a 2021 survey of 215 suppliers.[19]

Data Governance in the automotive sector (sector benchmark)

  • 40% of automotive manufacturers have established a data-governance framework covering data flow, access control and retention, according to a 2019 survey of 100 firms.[4]
  • 34% of automotive manufacturers report complete visibility of data flows across all processes and IT-OT systems, based on a 2019 survey of 100 firms.[4]
  • 78% of automotive OEMs use metrics and KPIs to govern customer-privacy efforts, according to KPMG’s 2024 global survey.[7]
  • 42% of automotive OEMs employ a chief privacy officer to oversee systemic handling of sensitive data, according to KPMG’s 2024 global survey.[7]
  • 67% of automotive OEMs report to the board on customer-privacy efforts, according to KPMG’s 2024 global survey.[7]
  • 84% of automotive OEMs use a cross-functional steering committee to govern customer-privacy efforts, according to KPMG’s 2024 global survey.[7]

KPIs in the auto car industry

  • 3,849,326 cars were produced in South Korea in 2024.[22]
  • 99.8 million vehicles were sold globally in 2025, up 4.7% from 95.3 million in 2024.[22]
  • 12.5% was the decline in U.S. body-and-trailer manufacturing output per worker between 2019 and 2023.[23]
  • 1,895,020 cars were produced in Brazil in 2024.[22]
  • 7.2% was the improvement in U.S. motor-vehicle-parts manufacturing output per worker between 2019 and 2023.[23]
  • 17.1% was the decline in U.S. motor-vehicle manufacturing output per worker between 2019 and 2023.[23]

06 Statistics

Strategy & Growth

Electrification continues faster than total demand: electric-car sales reached more than 20 million in 2025, and the IEA expects 23 million in 2026.

Growth in the auto car industry

  • 17.2 million vehicles were produced in Europe in 2025, down 0.8% from the prior year.[22]
  • 55.02 million vehicles were sold across Asia, Oceania and the Middle East in 2025, up 7.1% year on year.[22]
  • 59.2 million vehicles were produced in Asia-Pacific in 2025, representing more than 61% of global output.[22]
  • 8.41 million vehicles were produced in Japan in 2025.[22]
  • 6.49 million vehicles were produced in India in fiscal 2025–26.[22]
  • 1.29 million vehicles were sold in Africa in 2025, up 22% from 1.05 million in 2024.[22]

Differentiation in the auto car industry

  • Nearly 100 electric large-car or SUV models were available in the United States in 2024.[24]
  • 45 small electric-car models were available in China in 2024, compared with fewer than 10 small conventional models.[24]
  • 38% was Tesla’s share of United States electric-car sales in 2024, down from 60% in 2020.[24]
  • 50% fewer electric-car models than internal-combustion and hybrid models were available globally in 2024.[24]
  • 340 kilometres was the global sales-weighted average range of battery-electric cars under on-road conditions in 2024.[24]
  • More than 90% of small-car sales in China were electric in 2024.[24]

Mergers and acquisitions in the auto car industry

  • USD 0.6 billion was the value of automotive M&A transactions recorded in 2024.[25]
  • 67% of announced automotive M&A transactions in 2024 involved strategic buyers, while financial buyers represented 33%.[26]
  • USD 1.4 billion was the value of automotive M&A transactions recorded in 2023.[25]
  • 35 automotive M&A transactions were recorded in 2025.[25]
  • 21 automotive M&A transactions were recorded in 2023.[25]
  • 27.06% of Iveco’s common shares and 43.11% of its voting rights were represented by Exor’s irrevocable commitment to support Tata Motors’ offer.[27]

Strategic partnerships in the auto car industry

  • 49% was PowerCo’s planned stake in the Šurany and Kenitra battery-material joint ventures with Gotion.[28]
  • 50% was Volkswagen Group’s ownership share in the Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies joint venture.[29]
  • 2 smart electric-car models were planned under Volkswagen and XPENG’s joint-development agreement for China.[28]
  • USD 5.8 billion was Volkswagen Group’s planned investment in Rivian and their software joint venture by January 2028.[28]
  • EUR 1.1 billion was Gotion’s planned investment for a 49% stake in Volkswagen’s Valencia battery site.[28]
  • 4.99% was Volkswagen Group’s acquired stake in XPENG announced as part of their strategic partnership.[28]

07 Statistics

People & Workforce

Workforce constraints show up in hiring difficulty, with 71% of U.S. motor-vehicle and component-parts employers that hired in 2025 reporting difficulty hiring workers.

Hiring in the auto car industry

  • 160,000 people were employed by General Motors globally in hourly and salaried positions in 2024.[30]
  • The German automotive industry workforce declined slightly in 2024 from the previous year.[31]
  • Technician and mechanical-support roles were the most difficult positions to fill for U.S. motor-vehicle and component-parts employers in 2025.[32]
  • 961,600 people worked in U.S. motor-vehicle and parts manufacturing in 2024.[33]
  • 71% of U.S. motor-vehicle and component-parts employers that hired in 2025 reported difficulty hiring workers.[32]

Employee retention in the auto car industry

  • 10.9% was the automotive-sector attrition rate reported by the Institute of the Motor Industry for its latest pre-2024 study.[34]
  • 6% was Stellantis’ employee turnover rate for the comparison year disclosed in its 2025 annual report.[35]
  • 22% of automotive dealership employees surveyed in the United States said they intended to leave within six months in 2025.[36]
  • 89.9% of U.K. automotive employees remained with the same employer in 2024.[34]
  • 12.7% was the total employee movement rate in the U.K. automotive sector in 2022.[34]

Remote Work in the automotive sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across global automotive companies, 2% of corporate employees worked fully remotely in 2024, according to a survey of 120 automotive CEOs.[10]
  • Across automotive and other transportation companies, 61% said in 2024 that they were seeking more remote workers in low-cost-of-living areas.[37]
  • Across automotive and other transportation companies, 63% said in 2024 that they were mandating employees return to the workplace.[37]
  • Across U.S. motor-vehicle manufacturers, 3.4% of positions were fully remote in 2024, based on employer recruiting data.[38]

Hybrid Work in the automotive sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across global automotive companies, 96% of corporate employees worked in-office in 2024, leaving 4% in fully remote or hybrid arrangements.[10]
  • Across U.S. motor-vehicle manufacturers, 32.6% of positions were fully hybrid in 2024, based on employer recruiting data.[38]
  • Across global automotive companies, 3% of corporate employees worked in hybrid arrangements in 2024, according to a survey of 120 automotive CEOs.[10]
  • Across U.S. motor-vehicle manufacturers, 64% of positions were fully in-person in 2024, based on employer recruiting data.[38]

Upskilling in the auto car industry

  • 96 supply-chain audits were completed by Volvo Cars in 2024, supporting responsible-business capability building.[39]
  • All Volvo Cars office employees received human-rights training through annual Code of Conduct training in 2024.[40]
  • 11,700 skills-based learning courses were available to General Motors employees in 2024.[30]
  • 72% or more of automotive and aerospace employers identified talent retention as a key expected outcome of training programmes for 2025–2030.[41]
  • 19,000 General Motors employees logged learning hours in 2024.[30]

Employee Engagement in the automotive sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across the U.S. automotive workforce, 70% of surveyed employees were satisfied or very satisfied with their job in 2025.[42]
  • Across the U.S. automotive workforce, 73% of surveyed employees said their work was purposeful in 2025.[42]
  • Across the U.S. automotive workforce, 79% of 312 surveyed employees said they felt respected and valued by colleagues, teammates, or peers in 2025.[42]
  • Across the U.S. automotive workforce, 70% of surveyed employees said they were empowered to make decisions at work in 2025.[42]
  • Across the U.S. automotive workforce, 60% of surveyed employees intended to still work for their current company two years later in 2025.[42]

DEI in the auto car industry

  • 28.0% of Ford’s salaried employees worldwide were women at December 31, 2024.[43]
  • 22,900 General Motors employees received experiential unconscious-bias workshops in 2022.[44]

08 Statistics

Customer & Sales

Customer journeys remain operationally sensitive, with 57% of automotive customers displeased with post-purchase services considering switching brands within 6 to 18 months in 2024.

Customer experience in the auto car industry

  • 76% of consumers prioritized ease of use and accessibility when choosing or staying with an automotive brand or mobility service in 2024.[4]
  • 11th of 13 major consumer-facing industries was the 2024 ranking of automotive dealers for overall customer experience.[4]
  • 73% of automotive organizations overestimated the importance of reputation relative to other customer-experience factors in 2024.[4]
  • 34% of automotive customers believed their vehicle brand or mobility provider offered one of the industry’s best customer experiences in 2024.[4]
  • 48% of consumers were likely to subscribe to a mobility service rather than purchase a vehicle in 2024.[4]

Customer retention in the auto car industry

  • 57% of automotive customers displeased with post-purchase services considered switching brands within 6 to 18 months in 2024.[4]
  • 5% of U.S. customers whose repairs were not completed correctly on the first visit resolved the issue at an aftermarket service facility in 2025.[45]
  • 50% of U.S. customers whose vehicle repairs were not completed correctly on the first visit said they returned or planned to return to the dealership in 2025.[45]
  • 82% of vehicle buyers were likely to service their vehicle at the dealership of purchase in the 2024 U.S. buyer journey study.[46]
  • 6 automotive brands had U.S. retention rates above 50% in 2024.[47]

Customer acquisition in the auto car industry

  • 29% of U.S. auto dealers had started adjusting to AI-powered search by the second quarter of 2026.[46]
  • 53% of U.S. vehicle buyers completed all required purchase steps at the dealership in the 2025 study.[46]
  • 25% of U.S. new-vehicle buyers engaged AI tools during shopping in the 2025 Car Buyer Journey Study.[46]
  • 83% of U.S. consumers said AI’s rise would affect car buying in the future in the 2025 study.[46]
  • 81% of U.S. franchise dealers used or were interested in salespeople using digital tools to continue shoppers’ dealership journeys in 2023.[46]

Customer loyalty in the auto car industry

  • 63.9% was Tesla’s U.S. brand loyalty rate in the first half of 2026.[48]
  • 55.9% was Tesla’s U.S. brand loyalty rate at the end of 2025.[48]
  • 51.4% was U.S. vehicle brand loyalty at the end of 2025.[48]
  • 72.1% was Tesla Model 3 loyalty in the United States in the first half of 2024.[49]
  • 65.1% was Ford truck-owner loyalty in the 2024 U.S. Automotive Brand Loyalty Study.[45]

Lead generation in the auto car industry

  • 30% of U.S. franchise dealers offered customers the ability to complete all deal steps online one year before the 2023 study.[46]
  • 36% of dealers using AI reported sales and revenue growth from AI in 2026, compared with 21% of dealers not using AI.[46]
  • 63% of U.S. in-market vehicle shoppers planned to use AI for their next vehicle purchase in the second quarter of 2026.[46]
  • 74 seconds was the approximate average hold time for automotive shoppers who connected with a dealership in 2024.[50]
  • 1.1 billion dealer-website visits were analyzed in the 2024 Foureyes automotive lead benchmark dataset.[50]

09 Statistics

Marketing & Brand

Brand and media presence shift with digital discovery, while 1.1 billion dealer-website visits were analyzed in the 2024 Foureyes dataset.

Marketing in the auto car industry

  • 5% lower average media spending by automotive brands was reported for 2024 versus 2023.[51]
  • $922.8 million was Toyota’s U.S. advertising spend in the period reported by MediaRadar.[52]
  • $729.6 million was Ford’s U.S. advertising spend in the period reported by MediaRadar.[52]
  • $1.219 billion was General Motors’ U.S. advertising spend in the period reported by MediaRadar.[52]
  • $329.1 million was Volkswagen’s U.S. advertising spend in the period reported by MediaRadar.[52]

Digital marketing in the auto car industry

  • 51% of U.S. buyers ultimately completed the purchase in person in 2024, despite online shopping activity.[46]
  • 64% of used-car buyers reported satisfaction with their buying experience in 2024.[46]
  • 59% of U.S. vehicle buyers used dealership websites or digital dealership resources during the 2025 purchase journey.[46]
  • 4.6 websites was the average number visited by U.S. vehicle buyers during the 2025 purchase journey.[46]
  • 75% of U.S. vehicle buyers used third-party websites during the 2025 purchase journey.[46]

Branding in the auto car industry

  • $62.7 billion was Toyota’s global automotive brand value in 2026.[53]
  • $15.3 billion was Tesla’s decline in automotive brand value in 2025.[53]
  • 92.5 out of 100 was Toyota’s automotive Brand Strength Index score in 2026.[53]
  • $74.2 billion was Toyota’s global brand value in Interbrand’s 2025 ranking.[54]
  • $50.1 billion was Mercedes-Benz’s global brand value in Interbrand’s 2025 ranking.[54]

Social media in the auto car industry

  • More than 60% of U.S. car shoppers used social media during the purchase journey in 2025.[45]
  • 22% of U.S. automotive internet shoppers used a social-media site while shopping for a new vehicle in 2016.[45]
  • Nearly 50% of U.S. car shoppers used social media specifically for inspiration or recommendations in 2025.[45]
  • More than 13 million unique authors discussed cars in public online conversations from April 2023 through March 2024.[55]
  • 26% of U.S. vehicle buyers used social media during the 2025 purchase journey.[46]

Influencer Marketing in the automotive sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across automotive shoppers in the US, UK, Germany, Norway and Saudi Arabia, 61% said they trusted vehicle recommendations and reviews from creators in 2025.[56]
  • Across automotive shoppers in the US, UK, Germany, Norway and Saudi Arabia, 63% said creators made them consider buying a vehicle brand or model in 2025.[56]
  • Among US Pinterest users planning to buy a car in 2024, 44% noticed sponsorship of user-generated content, such as a YouTube video or podcast.[57]
  • Among 277 surveyed car enthusiasts, 84% had taken at least one real-world action because of a car influencer they followed online in 2026.[58]
  • Across automotive shoppers in the US, UK, Germany, Norway and Saudi Arabia, 69% said creators made them more aware of vehicle brands in 2025.[56]

10 Statistics

Operations & Execution

Manufacturing execution continues under network rebuilds, and supplier-side incidents persisted with 1,963 power-outage incidents recorded during 2024 and the first five months of 2025.

Process optimization in the auto car industry

  • Around 1,000 vehicles left BMW Group’s Munich site every day while its production facilities were rebuilt during ongoing operations in 2024.[59]
  • 30% faster charging was targeted for BMW Group’s Gen6 high-voltage battery technology compared with the preceding concept.[59]
  • 2,513,830 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce automobiles were manufactured across BMW Group’s global production network in 2024.[59]
  • Nearly 400,000 BMW X models were produced at the Spartanburg plant in the United States in 2024.[59]
  • 30% more range was targeted for BMW Group’s Gen6 high-voltage battery technology in selected applications.[59]

Operational efficiency in the auto car industry

  • 2,456,561 vehicles were produced by BMW Group in 2025.[59]
  • Around 30 production sites across four continents formed Mercedes-Benz’s worldwide production network in 2025.[60]
  • 32 production plants operated worldwide for BMW Group in 2025.[59]
  • 159,104 people were employed by BMW Group at the end of 2024.[59]
  • 2.4 million passenger cars and vans were sold by Mercedes-Benz in 2024.[60]

Quality management in the auto car industry

  • Six quality-specific action areas were completed by Volkswagen Group in 2024 under its Top 10 program.[29]
  • 84% was BMW’s approximate average recall-completion rate for 2021 campaigns in NHTSA’s manufacturer comparison.[61]
  • 70% was Honda’s approximate average recall-completion rate for 2024 campaigns in NHTSA’s manufacturer comparison.[61]
  • 90 days of ownership was the survey timing used for respondents in J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Initial Quality Study.[45]
  • 81% was Kia’s approximate average recall-completion rate for 2024 campaigns in NHTSA’s manufacturer comparison.[61]

Supply chain in the auto car industry

  • 64% of the 1,245 manufacturing-site incidents tracked by Z2Data occurred at sub-tier automotive suppliers during 2024 and the first five months of 2025.[62]
  • 7,010 transportation-and-logistics incidents were recorded across the automotive supply chain during 2024 and the first five months of 2025.[62]
  • More than half of the supply-chain KPIs assessed by Roland Berger had not returned to pre-pandemic benchmarks in 2024.[63]
  • 1,963 power-outage incidents were recorded across the automotive supply chain during 2024 and the first five months of 2025.[62]
  • 44% higher supplier inventories than pre-COVID levels were reported in Roland Berger’s 2024 automotive-supplier analysis.[63]

Outsourcing / Offshoring in the automotive sector (sector benchmark)

  • 66% of U.S. automotive respondents sourced at least half of their products and raw materials domestically in 2023, while 40% sourced 75% or more domestically.[9]
  • 79% of U.S. automotive respondents were likely to add North American product or raw-material suppliers within the next 12 months in 2023.[9]
  • 36% of automotive procurement by dollar value came from offshore locations globally in 2021, according to a survey of 592 supply-chain professionals.[64]
  • 22% of automotive procurement by dollar value is projected to come from offshore locations globally in 2025, according to automotive supply-chain executives.[64]
  • 28% of automotive procurement by dollar value came from offshore locations globally in 2023, down from 36% in 2021.[64]

11 Statistics

Finance & Pricing

Pricing and cost pressures show up in reported margins and incentives: GM’s revenue growth was -1.3% in 2025 and incentive spending hit 4.5% of average transaction price in Q1 2024.

Pricing strategy in the auto car industry

  • $50,394 was GM’s U.S. average transaction price in December 2024, after sales incentives.[65]
  • 4.6% of average transaction price was GM’s incentive spending in the second quarter of 2024.[65]
  • 4.5% of average transaction price was GM’s incentive spending in the first quarter of 2024.[65]
  • 18% was Tesla’s decrease in automotive sales revenue during the first half of 2025, partly reflecting lower average selling prices and higher customer incentives.[66]
  • 8.1% was Mercedes-Benz Cars’ adjusted return on sales in 2024, down from 12.6% in 2023 partly because of negative pricing effects.[60]

Cost reduction in the auto car industry

  • 2.5 million units is Nissan’s targeted automotive-business break-even volume for fiscal 2026, down from 3.1 million units.[67]
  • $34,700 was Tesla’s approximate average cost of goods sold per vehicle in the fourth quarter of 2024, an all-time low for the company.[66]
  • 2% was Mercedes-Benz’s achieved material-cost reduction in 2025 versus 2024, excluding raw materials and product enhancements.[60]
  • ¥400 billion is Nissan’s targeted cost saving through turnaround initiatives in fiscal 2026.[67]
  • 10% is Mercedes-Benz’s target for fixed-cost reduction between 2024 and 2027.[60]

Profitability in the auto car industry

  • 5.7% was Volkswagen Passenger Cars and Light Commercial Vehicles’ operating margin in 2024.[29]
  • 4.9% was Li Auto’s operating margin in 2024, down from 6.0% in 2023.[68]
  • 6.2% was Hyundai Motor’s operating profit margin in 2025.[69]
  • 25.0% was Autoliv’s return on capital employed in 2024, up from 17.7% in 2023.[70]
  • €90 million was Porsche’s automotive operating profit in 2025, compared with €5.286 billion in 2024.[71]

Financial planning in the auto car industry

  • KRW9 trillion is Hyundai Motor’s planned 2026 capital expenditure.[69]
  • €34 billion–€37 billion is Volkswagen Automotive’s expected net-liquidity range for 2025.[29]
  • KRW1.4 trillion is Hyundai Motor’s planned 2026 strategic investment expenditure.[69]
  • KRW7.4 trillion is Hyundai Motor’s planned 2026 research and development expenditure.[69]
  • $11.34 billion was Tesla’s capital expenditure in 2024.[66]

12 Statistics

Product & Service

Over-the-air remediation expanded in recalls, with 6,789,628 vehicles partially or fully remedied using over-the-air updates by end of reporting period for 2024.

Product development in the auto car industry

  • More than 360 electric-car models were available in Europe in 2024, up from 290 models the previous year.[24]
  • Nearly 22 million electric cars were produced worldwide in 2025, more than 25% above 2024 production.[24]
  • Electric-car sales outside China, Europe and the United States reached 1.3 million units in 2024, nearly 40% above the previous year.[24]
  • China produced 16 million electric cars in 2025, approximately 20% more than domestic electric-car demand.[24]
  • €21.0 billion was Volkswagen Group Automotive Division research-and-development expenditure in 2024, equal to a 7.9% R&D-to-sales ratio worldwide.[29]

Product lifecycle in the auto car industry

  • China had approximately one electric car for every ten cars on the road at the end of 2024.[24]
  • Electrically chargeable cars represented 20.8% of new EU car sales in 2024 but only 3.9% of the cars already on the road.[72]
  • The average EU light commercial vehicle was 12.7 years old in 2023.[72]
  • Greece had the EU’s oldest passenger-car fleet in 2023, with an average age of 17.5 years.[72]
  • 6,789,628 vehicles from recalls dated 2024 were partially or fully remedied using over-the-air updates by the end of the reporting period.[61]

After-sales in the auto car industry

  • Mass-market U.S. battery-electric-vehicle service satisfaction was 51 points below mass-market internal-combustion-vehicle satisfaction in 2025.[45]
  • Subaru ranked highest among U.S. mass-market brands for dealer-service satisfaction in 2025, scoring 896 points.[45]
  • 28% of incorrect first-visit repairs in the United States involved unavailable necessary parts, according to the 2025 study.[45]
  • Mass-market U.S. vehicle owners rated recall service at 829 points, rising to 858 when recall work was combined with an oil change.[45]
  • Only 50% of U.S. customers whose repair was not fixed correctly on the first visit said they returned or planned to return to the dealership.[45]

Value proposition in the auto car industry

  • Chinese imports represented 85% of electric-car sales in Brazil and Thailand in 2024.[24]
  • The United States sold more than 1.6 million electric cars in 2024, with electric vehicles exceeding one in ten new-car sales.[24]
  • Brazil’s electric-car sales more than doubled to 125,000 units in 2024, exceeding 6% of total car sales.[24]
  • U.S. hybrid-vehicle owners recorded average automobile satisfaction of 82 out of 100 in 2024, compared with 80 for gasoline vehicles and 77 for electric vehicles.[73]
  • Global car sales approached 80 million units in 2024, with electric and hybrid cars accounting for around 30% of total sales.[24]

13 Statistics

Sustainability & Ethics

Electrification coexists with carbon targets, while Ford cut Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 47% from 2017 to 2023.

Sustainability in the auto car industry

  • Mercedes-Benz completed 65% of its assessments of 24 critical raw materials for human-rights and environmental risks in 2024.[60]
  • Electric cars represented around 30% of global car sales in 2024 when hybrids are included.[24]
  • Mercedes-Benz saved more than 300 GWh of energy during 2024.[60]
  • Mercedes-Benz reduced its overall waste for disposal by 38% in 2024 compared with 2023.[60]
  • More than 17 million electric cars were sold worldwide in 2024, representing over 20% of global new-car sales.[24]

ESG in the auto car industry

  • Ford reduced Scope 1 and Scope 2 operational greenhouse-gas emissions by 47% from 2017 to 2023.[74]
  • Ford reduced total Scope 3 greenhouse-gas emissions by 19% from 2019 to 2023.[74]
  • Ford used 10.09 billion kWh of energy across its operations in 2023.[74]
  • Mercedes-Benz aims to reduce CO2 emissions across its entire value chain by up to 50% within a decade.[60]
  • Ford allocated $4.21 billion through two green-bond issuances for clean transportation projects.[74]

Ethics in the auto car industry

  • Ford’s carbon-neutrality strategy addresses vehicles, operations and supply chain, which together represent approximately 95% of its carbon-dioxide emissions.[75]
  • Ford mapped five battery suppliers and 146 suppliers providing raw materials and components for those batteries by 2023.[75]
  • Mercedes-Benz identified 24 critical raw materials requiring human-rights and environmental due diligence by 2024.[60]
  • Ford’s 2023 workforce comprised 174,000 employees covered by its human-capital and workplace policies.[74]
  • Ford employees had accumulated 1.7 million volunteer hours through the Ford Volunteer Corps since 2005 by 2023.[74]

CSR in the auto car industry

  • Ford has supported communities through the Ford Motor Company Fund for more than 70 years.[74]
  • Ford operated more than 8,000 dealerships serving customers worldwide in 2023.[74]
  • Ford’s total preliminary Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions were 387 million metric tons in 2023.[74]
  • Ford used nine renewable materials in its vehicles and operations in 2023.[74]
  • Ford had 10 employee resource groups supporting employees and inclusion in 2023.[74]

Circular economy in the auto car industry

  • Ireland achieved 99% reuse and recovery of end-of-life vehicles in 2024.[76]
  • EU end-of-life vehicles totaled 4.3 million units in 2023.[77]
  • Only 19% of plastic fractions recovered after shredding end-of-life vehicles in the EU were sent to recycling.[78]
  • EU end-of-life vehicles achieved a 93.7% reuse-and-recovery rate in 2023.[77]
  • Ireland recorded 110,398 tonnes of end-of-life-vehicle waste in 2024.[76]

Carbon footprint in the auto car industry

  • Global pure internal-combustion-engine car sales had fallen 30% from their 2017 peak by 2024.[24]
  • More than 20% of new cars sold globally were electric in 2024, reducing tailpipe-emission intensity relative to conventional vehicles.[24]
  • Electric cars accounted for nearly half of all car sales in China in 2024.[24]
  • China accounted for almost two-thirds of global electric-car sales in 2024.[24]
  • Global electric-car sales grew more than fourteenfold between 2017 and 2024.[24]

15 Statistics

Globalization & Expansion

EV exports intensified, with more than 2.5 million Chinese electric cars exported in 2025, double the previous year’s level.

Globalization in the auto car industry

  • More than 2.5 million Chinese electric cars were exported in 2025, double the previous year’s level.[24]
  • Chinese automakers supplied 60% of global electric-car sales in 2025, while European and North American automakers each supplied about 15%.[24]
  • 9.0 million vehicles were produced worldwide by Volkswagen Group, including its Chinese joint ventures, in 2024.[29]
  • 21 million electric cars were sold globally in 2025, representing one-quarter of all new cars sold worldwide.[24]
  • 6.2 million vehicles were produced outside Volkswagen Group’s Chinese joint ventures in 2024.[29]

Cultural adaptation in the auto car industry

  • Electric cars represented about 97% of new-car sales in Norway in 2025.[24]
  • Toyota’s Asia sales share excluding China was 14% in fiscal 2025, compared with 12% in fiscal 2006.[85]
  • Toyota’s Japan sales share fell from 24% in fiscal 2006 to 15% in fiscal 2025.[85]
  • Toyota produced 1.958 million vehicles in North America in fiscal 2025.[85]
  • Toyota produced 1.79 million vehicles in Asia excluding Japan in fiscal 2025.[85]

Supplier management in the auto car industry

  • 5,881 indirect suppliers operated in 43 countries for Kongsberg Automotive in 2024.[86]
  • 18 Volkswagen Group production sites manufactured electric vehicles at year-end 2024.[29]
  • 83% of Volkswagen Group’s total procurement volume was covered by the reported value-chain sales-revenue proportion in 2024.[29]
  • 14 production lines are planned at Toyota’s North Carolina battery plant when it reaches full production.[85]
  • 6,992 overseas suppliers of equipment, logistics and related services were reported by Toyota for fiscal 2025.[85]

Stakeholder management in the auto car industry

  • 25% of Aptiv’s management roles were held by women at the end of 2024.[87]
  • 383,853 employees were employed by Toyota globally at the end of March 2025.[85]
  • 99.81% of Geely product and service complaints were handled in 2024.[86]
  • 5.05 million customers responded to Stellantis after-sales surveys across 70 countries in 2023.[88]
  • 33.5 billion yen was spent on Toyota social-contribution activities in fiscal 2025.[85]

Distribution channels in the auto car industry

  • 12 authorized dealers represented Scania in Türkiye in 2024.[86]
  • 80 authorized service centers represented Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles in Türkiye in 2024.[86]
  • 49 authorized service locations served SEAT customers in Türkiye in 2024.[86]
  • 69 authorized dealers represented Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles in Türkiye in 2024.[86]
  • 231 dealers operated Toyota’s Japanese sales network at March 31, 2025.[85]

Key questions about the auto car industry

What was global auto market size in 2025?
Global vehicle sales reached 99.8 million units in 2025, up 4.7% from 95.3 million in 2024. Global production reached 96.4 million units in 2025.
How fast did the market grow heading into 2026?
The IEA forecasts global electric-car sales of 23 million in 2026, compared with more than 20 million in 2025. That implies approximately 15% year-on-year growth and an expected electric share of 28% of total car sales in 2026.
Which companies lead the auto car industry?
Geely Holding Group stands out for passenger cars, EVs and commercial vehicles at multi-million-unit scale because it sold more than 4.11 million vehicles across its portfolio in 2025, while Toyota Motor Corporation focuses on passenger cars and commercial vehicles since it produced 9.05 million vehicles in fiscal 2025.
What technology shifts matter most across the industry?
In 2025, 71% of automotive respondents said AI or machine learning affects vehicle product design, with 24% reporting extensive use and 47% partial integration. Only 40% had an automated pipeline linking collection, insight generation, validation and deployment in 2026.
How concentrated is EV manufacturing compared with overall vehicle production?
China produced 34.53 million vehicles in 2025 and accounted for nearly 75% of global electric-car production. Asia-Pacific produced around 59.2 million vehicles, representing more than 61% of global output.
How are recalls increasingly handled in the market?
For 2024 recall campaigns, 6,789,628 recalled vehicles were remedied through over-the-air updates. Tesla remedied 5,098,363 vehicles through over-the-air updates for 2024 recall campaigns.
Reference

Cite This Report

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APA
Samuel Norberg. (2026, November 10). Auto Car Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/auto-car-industry-statistics
MLA
Samuel Norberg. "Auto Car Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 10 Nov 2026, https://gitnux.org/auto-car-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Samuel Norberg. 2026. "Auto Car Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/auto-car-industry-statistics.

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