BYD Auto World's leading EV maker Foreign automakers once viewed China's automotive sector as a future pillar of profitability alongside North America. According to a report from Yahoo Finance, the market evolved more rapidly than expected, with new-energy vehicles coming to represent approximately half of sales, creating a challenging environment for international companies. A severe price war in China's auto industry has significantly eroded profitability. Data indicates that in 2025, 56% of car dealerships in the country recorded losses, an increase from 42% the prior year. Only 24% of dealers reported a profit. The competitive pressure has led a large majority of dealerships to sell new vehicles below wholesale cost. Facing sustained difficulties competing domestically, several foreign automakers have altered their approach. They are increasingly utilizing China as a base for exporting lower-cost vehicles, often incorporating local technology. Ford Motor Company is noted as a prominent example of this strategic pivot. After reporting annual losses in China for six consecutive years, the company's operations there became profitable in 2024. This turnaround coincided with a substantial rise in vehicle exports from China, which grew by 60% that year to approximately 170,000 units. In contrast, wholesale deliveries through its local joint venture saw only modest growth. Interactive table based on the Store Companies dataset for this report. | # | Company | Headquarters | Focus | Scale | Note | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1 | BYD Auto | Shenzhen, Guangdong | EVs, PHEVs, passenger cars | Very large | World's leading EV maker | | 2 | SAIC Motor | Shanghai | Passenger & commercial vehicles | Very large | State-owned, partners with VW & GM | | 3 | Geely Auto | Hangzhou, Zhejiang | Passenger cars, EVs | Very large | Owns Volvo Cars, Zeekr, Lotus | | 4 | Changan