In 2023, some 94 million motor vehicles were produced worldwide. This figure translates into an increase of around 10 percent compared with the previous year. China, Japan, and Germany were among the largest producers of cars and commercial vehicles. China leads production China is ranked as the largest passenger car manufacturer in the world, having produced more than 26 million cars in 2023, and accounting for almost one third of the world’s passenger vehicle production. Over the past decades, China has emerged as one of the main growth markets for players in the global automobile industry. American manufacturers in China One of China’s largest car manufacturing companies is the joint venture between General Motors and SAIC Motor Corporation Limited, known as Shanghai General Motors Company Ltd or simply Shanghai GM. GM produces and sells passenger vehicles under the Chevrolet and Cadillac brands, among others. Aside from manufacturing cars, the company also produces engines and transmission systems. Shanghai GM’s production amounted to a little over 1.3 million units in 2021.

China was the leading country in terms of passenger car production in 2023: around 26.1 million units were produced here. This compares to about 7.8 million units in runner-up Japan. Light vehicle production by country China remained the top light vehicle producing country in 2023. Domestic manufacturers such as SAIC, Changan, Dongfeng, Geely, and BAIC - which is in a joint-venture with Mercedes-Benz Group - are gaining market share; joint ventures with foreign partners were the key to China’s success as a motor vehicle producer, both in the passenger car and the truck segment. Japan, Germany, India, and South Korea completed the list of the world’s largest car producers. Most of these countries are home to the major manufacturers of passenger vehicles. The leading car manufacturers worldwide include Germany’s Volkswagen Group and the Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation. What are passenger cars? According to the source, passenger cars are motor vehicles with at least four wheels, used for the transport of passengers, and comprising no more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat.

Germany was the largest supplier of passenger motor vehicles worldwide, globally exporting around 177.2 billion U.S. dollars worth of these vehicles. Japan, which reported some 110.9 billion U.S. dollars in exports, was second in the ranking. These two countries were the only ones to record exports over 100 billion U.S. dollars. Automotive parts and vehicle imports While Germany leads in vehicle exports, it also excels in supplying automotive parts and accessories to the rest of the world. In 2023, Germany exported nearly 66.5 billion U.S. dollars worth of these goods worldwide, outpacing China and the United States. This demonstrates Germany's relative strength in the automotive sector, encompassing both finished vehicles and components. Interestingly, the United States emerges as the largest importer of passenger vehicles, spending nearly 210.3 billion U.S. dollars on imports in 2023, more than double the value recorded by Germany. Re-exports and commercial vehicles The automotive trade landscape extends beyond new vehicle exports. The United Kingdom stands out as the largest supplier of re-exported passenger motor vehicles, with a re-export value of nearly 25.9 billion U.S. dollars in 2023. In the commercial vehicle segment, Spain has a slight lead in re-exports, recording over 985.2 million U.S. dollars worth. The United States plays a significant role in commercial vehicle imports, bringing in around 43.7 billion U.S. dollars worth of medium or heavy trucks in 2023, more than double the value imported by Canada.

In 2023, Germany was the leading supplying country for automotive parts and accessories, exporting nearly 66.5 billion U.S. dollars worth of these goods worldwide. China, with exports around 53.3 billion U.S. dollars, and the United States, at some 47.5 billion U.S. dollars, were second and third in the ranking.

In 2023, the United States was the country which imported the most passenger vehicles, including cars. That year, the U.S. spent nearly 210.3 billion U.S. dollars on vehicle imports, which was well over double the import value recorded by Germany, which was second in the ranking.

The United States imported automotive parts and accessories valued at over 87.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, making it the leading importer for these goods. Germany, which imported a little over half what was recorded for the U.S., was second in the ranking.