Ford Motor Company recorded global wholesale sales of just under 4.4 million vehicles in 2025, a decline of nearly 2% from the previous year, falling short of BYD’s reported 4.6 million units.
According to Bloomberg, this marks the first time BYD has outperformed Ford in annual global sales, elevating the Chinese manufacturer to sixth place in the worldwide rankings while Ford slips to seventh.
Toyota retained the top position for the sixth consecutive year, with sales rising 4.6% to 11.3 million vehicles. Other leading groups included Volkswagen at around 8.98 million units and Hyundai-Kia at 7.28 million, as various industry compilations confirm the hierarchy.
Ford achieved growth in its domestic US market, where sales increased notably in trucks and commercial vehicles, pushing its market share higher. However, the company lost significant ground in Europe and especially China, the world’s largest auto market. In China, local producers including BYD, Xiaomi, and Geely captured share from foreign brands through competitively priced, technology-rich electric vehicles.
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Ford has faced substantial costs in its electric vehicle transition, reporting charges of $19.5 billion to restructure its strategy amid slower-than-expected demand for EVs globally.
BYD expanded aggressively beyond China, with exports reaching 1.05 million vehicles in 2025 across Europe, South America, and Asia. The company targets 1.3 million exports in 2026, building on overseas growth that has become a key driver.
In its home market, BYD confronts headwinds in 2026 as government subsidies for new-energy vehicles are scaled back. Regulators have warned of penalties for sustained aggressive discounting, which has characterised recent competition and contributed to price pressures. As reported by ChinaEVHome, these changes follow a period of rapid expansion, with BYD’s domestic dominance in new-energy vehicles—particularly battery electrics—now tested by evolving policy and intensifying rivalry from other Chinese firms.
Overall, the shift underscores broader industry dynamics, where Chinese manufacturers leverage scale in electrified vehicles to challenge established players amid a global transition to lower-emission mobility. Toyota’s leadership continues to rely on a balanced portfolio heavy in hybrids and internal combustion engines.
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