China’s automotive industry is a growing one with a long list of brands and models that amount to the dozens. In an attempt to understand the major players in one of the world’s largest markets, CarSalesBase has compiled a list of the largest (Chinese) automakers in the country according to their respective 2017 sales figures, which we then narrowed down a few notable companies.
Kicking things off is 68th placed Great Wall Motors (GWM), which is better known to us in Malaysia through its Haval sub-brand. The 1984-founded company that was first known for its commercial vehicles recently unveiled the Wey P8, a plug-in hybrid SUV that is meant to reinforce its luxury SUV line-up. In 2017, the company’s sales stood at 11,652 units, but this figure only accounts for GWM-branded vehicles (the Haval brand is counted separately).
Next up is another brand that has some presence in our country, Borgward (56th place), which isn’t exactly a Chinese brand. The historic German brand was revived after a five-decade hiatus when Beiqi Foton Motor, a subsidiary of BAIC, entered into a deal with the grandson of Borgward’s founder Carl Borgward in 2015. Last year, with models such as the BX7 SUV, the company attained a 0.18% market share, or 44,380 units.
Founded in 1992, the Brilliance Auto Group (43rd place) has models marketed under three brands, including Brilliance, Huasong and Jinbei. The company also has a joint venture with BMW, where it makes a number of models like the 1 Series Sedan. Sales for the brand amounted to 101,317 units last year.
Another notable company is 31st placed First Automobile Works (FAW), which has nearly eight brands parked under it. As China’s oldest passenger car manufacturer, the 1953-founded FAW also has a number of joint ventures with Volkswagen, Toyota, Audi and General Motors. The brand sold 191,179 units last year.
Zotye Auto (26th place) should be somewhat familiar to our readers, as the 1968-founded company has been regularly accused of plagiarism, as is the case with the SR8, or Porsche Macan clone. Despite this, it managed to sell 311,266 cars last year.
A relatively new brand, 2003-founded BYD Auto (Build Your Dreams) started out as a battery maker before purchasing Tsinchuan Automobile Company in 2002. Aside from making electrified vehicles, the company (20th place) also has a joint venture with Daimler, resulting in the new Denza 500. The brand sold 403,496 units last year.
Another brand familiar to us in Malaysia is seventh placed Chery, which is another big entity in China. With 455,718 units sold in 2017, the company offers a good mix of SUVs, sedans and superminis in China, some of which are under its Jetour sub-brand. There’s also the new Exeed sub-brand for European markets, with the TX being of the first models to be revealed.
Seventeenth-placed Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) sold 508,029 units last year, with a mix of passenger and commercial vehicles under the under the GAC, Trumpchi, Gonnow and Changfeng brands. It currently has joint ventures with Fiat, Honda, Mitsubishi and Toyota.
Coming in with 553,242 units last year is fifth placed Shanghai Motor Corporation (SAIC), a Fortune Global 100 company and one of the “Big Four” state-owned Chinese automakers (along with Chang’an Motors, FAW Group and Dongfeng Motor). The Maxus brand in Malaysia is managed by Weststar Group, which SAIC Motor has a partnership with.
Just ahead of SAIC is 14th placed BAIC Group (Beijing Automotive Industry Holding) with 566,856 units. Another state-owned enterprise, BAIC’s current subsidiaries include BAIC Motor, BAW, BJEV and Foton Motor.
Dongfeng Motor (12th place) sold 639,248 cars last year, and develops its own products under the Fengdu, Fengshen and Fengxing brands. It was a large number of joint ventures as well, with the most notable involving Honda, Nissan and Renault.
As mentioned earlier, Haval’s sales figures are counted separately from GWM, and in 2017, the brand sold 849,554 vehicles to take the ninth spot on the list. This places them ahead of companies like Hyundai (796,586 units) and Ford (839,815 units).
A producer of passenger and commercial vehicles, seventh placed Changan Auto sold 1,055,096 vehicles last year marketed either as a Chang’an or Chana. Also one of the original “Big Four” automakers in China, the company also has joint venture operations with DS Automobiles, Ford, Mazda, Peugeot-Citroen and Suzuki.
Leading the Chinese automakers is 1986-founded Geely (third place), which should be well known among Malaysians here following the company’s stake acquisition in Proton. Originally a refrigerator manufacturer founded by Li Shufu, Geely later become a motorcycle producer and started small van production in 1998. Later in 2001, Geely received state approval to make automobiles and began exporting its cars to overseas markets in 2003.
The company’s name translates to auspicious or lucky, and it proved true last year when it raked in 1,251,656-unit sales (Geely’s figures say 1,247,116 units sold), ahead of companies like Toyota (1,137,920 units) and Nissan (1,118,085 units, but behind Volkswagen (3,139,120 units) and Honda (1,417,802 units.) Despite the large number, Geely’s sales only accounted for about 5.85% of the China’s total industry volume (TIV) – a reminder of just how large the market is. The company currently has stakes in the London Taxi Company, Lotus, Terrafugia and more recently in Daimler.
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Malaysians still have no confidence in China cars. Otherwise, Haval will be selling well and its RV won’t be the worst RV amongst all cars in Malaysia
Goes to show, Malaysians have zero confidence in China cars
Cherry, Haval and many others failed in Malaysia the past 10 years. How is Geely different?
Geely sold almost 2X entire MY TIV during 2017. 1.2 million pipu vs u and ur dupes. Siapa betui?
Chinese domination is inevitable.
Talk so much no use. Mighty Honda cannot save Proton. What jack can a chinese brand do to save this despise ailing Proton?
Hahaha! Talk so much but Toyota went from 1st to 3rd in 1 year. Waterfall sales everywhere. Meanwhile Honda got bottom of JDPower survey. Jepunis reputation is now a pale shadow, on the backs of so many quality scandals.
Toyota global sales are still beyond Proton
Honda JDPower survey still has higher rating than Proton
Both are still above Proton in terms of sales and customer satisfaction
So what you are trying to say? That Proton are better than them? Hahaha…
Do read lah. Toyota China sales is below Geely despite being bigger. Why?
And JDPower results for Honda is BOTTOM, means its even below P1. What say u? That jepunis is better? Hahahaha…
Irony is true, probably in 2020 we going to see more prc car then jepun made in thai car
Dude john. Japanese not doing so well in china because of anti japanese sentiment during world war 2. Go back and study history.
Why? Bcoz Geely is China’s national car! Same if u sell Geely in Japan, do u think Geely’s sales will be more than Toyota? Hahaha. Globally, Toyota sales are still more.
Since when JD Power shows Honda is below Proton? Pls show proof if u can, else u are just a spreader of ‘Fake News’. Here is a link so that readers can judge for themselves whether john is telling the truth:
https://paultan.org/2016/10/07/j-d-power-new-models-stimulate-weak-malaysian-market/
More fake news from fake dupe, u think we stupid kah?
Geely national car company? How many car companies in China? Theres no such thing as national there lah.
And u provide veli old link, got udang kah? Here is latest result: https://paultan.org/2017/08/01/j-d-power-2017-malaysia-customer-service-index-toyota-takes-top-spot-improvements-across-the-board/
#StoptheLies
@Ahmad. U think the average Chinese there will care where the brand comes from? In Shanghai plenty of cars r Buicks, Caddys, GMs, VWs. U think these countries r so brother with China kah? Go to China and see urself, nobody gips a F about branding, just what it can offer.
Difference is Geely got Proton which have abundant service center in Malaysia compared to other Chinese brand. Not that I say it’s good or anything, I don’t know, we’ll see.
So many 1 year old Haval now selling for 70% off at RM30k.
Ultimate deal. RM100k to RM30k in one year!
Buyer beware. Buy China car…..after 1 year, your resale value will cause you heart attack
Geely started making cars in 2001. That is 17 years ago.
You dare to buy a car from a car company that started 17 years ago OR from a Japanese company started about 80 years ago?
17 years VS 80 years
I cannot brain this. Proton started in 1985. Geely started in 2001
Who is older?
By right, Geely should be learning from Proton. Not Proton learning from Geely. Proton is 16 years older.
Proton also had to fight and compete with just 1 National car maker Perodua.
Geely had to fight more than 10 national car makers and competition was not easy
So how come Geely can do so well??
Why not, such as much younger tesla. It definitely smokes your underpower jepunis sports car. Hahaha
China cars have failed in all first world countries
USA – fail
Europe – fail
UK – fail
Japan – fail
Australia – fail
China cars can only sell in 3rd world countries
Malaysia – Outstanding
Passenger cars are for transporting passengers, not for smoking other cars. Don’t smoke too much. It’s not good for your health
So many dupe downvote, haters gonna hate.
In time, they will know what it’s like to lose. To feel so desperate that you’re right, yet to fail all the same. Dread it, run from it, destiny still comes.
They see me rollin’, they hatin’, patrollin’ like they’re tryna catch me ridin’ dirty,
Tryna catch me ridin’ dirty,
Tryna catch me ridin’ dirty,
Tryna catch me ridin’ dirty
Proton says sales from 70,000 now will be 200,000 in 2020. That is 1 year 6 months more
How is this possible when Geely/Proton have to compete with 10 other China car manufacturers for sales? These 10 China car companies are so aggressive.
Also, Geely said Boyue is for the local Malaysian market and it won’t be marketed for China market
How to jump 70,000 to 200,000? So many Malaysians got RM100k?
Hahaha! True dat bro tokmoh.
The harder he throws the hate, the harder it bounces back at em and soon will hit em on the head. Then only he will realise how silly he was to throw it in the 1st place!
Geely is RM100k
Subaru Forester is RM116k
Which is a better buy? Geely is sold in Chna mainly. Subaru is sold all over the world and Forester is Australia top selling SUV and in US, top seller too
Forrester design is old fashioned , too squarish. A deal breaker.
I will buy Geely, Forester is damn ugly!
If you can’t afford a Cayenne get a Geely, both look nice just depends on your budget.
Didn’t u recommend Forester before? Why now change?
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Don’t use the word life. Cause once Geely sees sales are so bad, they won’t hesitate to close shop. RM170 million investment to buy 49.9% stake in Proton is small money for a company that made USD30 billion in profits last year (RM120 billion)
LOL!, even the revenue is only about USD 15 billion, how on earth can it make a profit of USD 30 billion last year?
Geely made only around USD1.7 billion net profit last year.
What is your purpose to keep creating fake user acc and putting those fake figures to mislead the readers here?
I’m confused with this article. The compilation is the unit sales of China cars in UK or in China? The numbers quoted are way too small for China market sales.
Those figures are only for China local brands, may include JV and CKDs.
Those sales numbers are incorrect if it is China brands in China market.
Middle Age Driver: You maybe right.
Source: http://carsalesbase.com/china-car-sales-analysis-2017-brands/
Just look at Haval numbers. Reported #9 ranking, sold 849,554 units but above article says only sold 11,652 units. Could this 11,652 units be the Wey P8 mentioned in the article? See #46 ranking, Wey (brand) sold 86,427 units.
Missing from the article above is #8 ranking Baojun (1,021,307 units sold).
Therefore, the Top 5 by carsalesbase data should then be #1 Geely #2 Changan #3 Baojun #4 Haval #5 Dongfeng
You’re both right. The Great Wall number listed in the article (as reported by Autocar) turns out to be for the Great Wall brand in China. Haval has much higher numbers. We’ll have it rectified soon.
Can you stop this john from trolling? Readers here have enough of him bragging about his Proton from the response
What about ur umpteen dupes that even esteemed PT members cant stand?
Esteemed PT members vs fake dupes. Siapa akan menang?
typical loser attitude of blaming the world world when things go wrong instead of looking at one self and rectifying sales
This is Proton problem. Instead of improving kualiti, they blame rakyat for not being patriotik.
then blame fake dupes for kutuking Proton
the article is bout china car brand only eg Geely 3rd overall that include foreign brand n 1st for Chinese car brand.
overall
VW – 3.4M
Hnda – 1.4M
Geely – 1.23M
Buick – 1.22M
Toyota – 1.14M
Wuling 1.14M
Nissan 1.12M
Changan – 1.06M
Haval – 0.85M
China brand
Geely – 1.2M
Wuling – 1.14M
Changan – 1.06M
Haval – 0.85M
he not the biggest troller though.. the guy who always change name is the biggest troller..he oso the guy who down vote every positive n make sense comment a lot.. he has many name though eg kunta kinte, Rahim Razak etc. if u see very structured or copy-paste nonsense comment that most probably him.
Even bro kzm need to speak out about the virus called Albertkunta troll.
typical Proton attitude. When sales are bad, blame the whole world. Say rakyat not patrotic.
Here, when many people kutuk Proton, same attitude….say fake news la, say fake dupes la, say kunta la, say troller la
Try to own up your own mistakes and improve sales of Proton instead of blaming it on the world
Yes its our inhouse retard car consultant..pity him..got no life…drives a saga maybe…
that guy may be a troll, but he also speaks the truth now and then.
Actually the purpose of this article shows just how far off the failed Proton really is, left behind in terms of global competition by at least 20 years.
It’s fairly irrelevant at this point in time what forum posters think will happen when the Proton SUV is released. Most think it will fail and a few think it’s going to be the game changer that proton need. Time will tell.
What WILL be interesting is how it will be released and how effective the marketing machine can convince potential buyers or fence sitters. I envisage a massive promotion of this SUV, as it NEEDS to be a game changer for Proton. If it fails, then Proton may as well close up shop, although the politics behind the company will probably not let that happen.
Perception is going to be a major barrier, as most people like to buy an established brand with a solid history in developed countries. If this was being sold in Australia, as an example, and had a solid 12-24 month positive history, then that would assist the uptake. Without it, it’s adding to the selling struggle.
At face value, it’s quite a reasonably attractive SUV with a very good suite of extras, that’s a plus. Quality of interior and exterior will be key and most of us can’t comment yet as we haven’t seen it in the flesh.
Proton/ Geely really need to get this right from the very beginning. There is no room for any mistakes or mishaps. I believe Geely will be putting everything into the launch, so that alone will be worth watching from the sidelines.
I’ll be watching very closely, as this is a massive business opportunity and could well be a success if everything is done 100% properly. Failure is not an option, as it would be a knife to the heart of Proton.
Time will tell. Well worth watching to see how it’s all handled.
Right now, I have absolutely no opinion on how this will be accepted.
This is not the first time Proton claims is a ‘Game Changer’. Remember the countless Proton cars that are said to be ‘Game Changer’? What happened to them? The only ‘Game Changer’ is the syok sendiri Proton salesmen shouting louder, even one claiming to be ‘Market Changer’. As they say, those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it. Same goes to ‘Game Changer’.
Game changer is no longer the game. Time to change the game and reset the rules. Time again for P1 to be the Market changer. Yee-hah!
I don’t see Youngman brand in the list