Chinese Brand Enters World's Top Five Largest Automakers

Chinese automotive brand BYD has achieved a historic milestone by entering the world's top five largest automakers in the third quarter of 2026. With this result, the company also surpassed the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance.

According to The Korea Herald, the Chinese automaker sold 1.32 million vehicles over the three-month period, representing an 18.7% increase compared with the same period last year.

Toyota Group currently leads the global rankings with 2.74 million vehicles sold. Volkswagen Group ranks second with 1.89 million vehicles, while Hyundai Motor Group secured third place with sales of 1.76 million units. As a result, the gap between the South Korean automotive group and Volkswagen narrowed to just 125,000 vehicles.

BYD's rapid growth has been largely driven by its aggressive expansion into overseas markets. During the reporting period, the company's exports surged by 137%, reaching 551,000 vehicles.