Suzuki Sales/Production : 2020-26

Suzuki has a unique positioning of product. They manufacture only small cars and commercial vehicles, which are notoriously difficult to make money on. Yet it is profitable. Its success is based on just two markets, India and Japan. That could leave them exposed if one faltered, but it hasn't. 

We will look at production and sales to see how the car division is doing globally. The data below is as detailed as it is provided by Suzuki.

Production: From 2020 to 2025, it has risen by 844,000 units. Japan is steady and the 'Rest' is down. India has grown by 904,000 to two thirds of the total production.

Sales: With India being a directly protected market and Japan indirectly, that gives Suzuki a solid platform to work off. Those two markets account for 78% of all vehicle sales. 

Of course, there has been much discussion about the impact of Chinese car makers aggressively expanding sales. Neither Japan nor India have been affected the same way. 

It will be interesting to see if that remains so but for now Suzuki cars are going along nicely. 3.3 million sales and 3.4 million vehicles produced in 2025 is impressive. There is consistent growth as well, a testament to how well the company is currently placed. 

Mexico Japan Car Production : 2025

Four Japanese firms have over the years invested in Mexican production. In 2025, that included six brands. In total, they produced 1,138,000 vehicles.

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Honda: 225,000 units in total are made here. 80% of Honda cars made in Mexico go to the US so it has been badly exposed by the introduction of tariffs. The next generation Civic hybrid is now not going to be made here.  

Mazda: They made 175,000 cars in 2025. Due to low US content, they are more greatly affected by tariffs. It is reducing exports to the US and sending cars to other markets. 

Nissan: An impressive 660,000 units were manufactured. A wide range of  vehicles is made here, including two for Infiniti. As for Infiniti, production ceased in November as the joint venture plant with Mercedes-Benz is ceasing. 

Nissan is the biggest selling brand in Mexico, so less dependent on exports that some other car makers. That said, globally Nissan is struggling any extra costs will hurt. 

Toyota: It has two plants making the Tacoma mid size pick up. Over 300,000 went through those establishments in 2025. It is able to leverage its US supply chain to minimise tariffs, so not too badly affected. 

Summary: Mexico is a vibrant car manufacturing location for Japanese firms and that will continue. 

Data source: INEGI. 

Rolls Royce Global Deliveries : 2023-25

The name Rolls Royce is synonymous or often attached to something else that is considered the best quality you can obtain. They are known for exceptional craftsmanship, prestige and engineering. 

Deliveries were often around the thousand mark until 2010, when they took an upward turn. They peaked in 2022 and 2023 at 6,000 and slipped back to 5,700 in 2024. 

2025 nearly reached that figure but fell short by 1%. Not that volume is something that RR chases. Customer demand will dictate the number made. 

Regional sales are not provided by the owner BMW. I'm assuming China is down and was the reason for 2025's slightly lower figure and for the year before. 

Mexico USA Car Production : 2025

US car makers with plants in Mexico now have to deal with tariffs on cars entering the USA. This has obviously impacted the profits of the vehicles involved. 

Ford: It makes three models here for a combined total of 417,000. The compact Bronco Sport crossover SUV and compact Maverick pick up truck benefit from lower wages as magins are tighter on compact sized vehicles. 

GM: It manufactured over 800,000 vehicles in 2025. While some model production will return to the US, it is committed to continued investment and will retain the four plants it operates through.  

Stellantis: Jeep and Ram are the two brands that make vehicles here. Combined, 266,000 units were assembled in Mexico. 

Jeep is just starting production of the Recon BEV. The compact Compass crossover SUV is the mainstay of Jeep manufacturing.

Ram makes mainly pick up trucks here but also the large Promaster van. Some pick up production will return Stateside.

Summary: Mexico was an appealing place to make vehicles and it still is. Recent moves have made it a little less appealing. 

Data source: INEGI. Photo; Mexico Now (Ram 1500).

BMW MINI Global Deliveries : 2023-25

Retro models rarely last too long. An initial flurry and then it's over. The MINI has lasted very well and still sells strongly. In an industry where models grow with each new generation MINI has also fallen victim. 

MINI hit 300,000 deliveries in 2012 and stayed above that until 2022 when it slipped just below. 2023 did likewise and then a drop in 2024, one that you have to go back to 2010 to see it lower. 

Was the grim reaper sharpening his scythe? No. The fourth generation has arrived and sales went back up, but not to the heights it has achieved in the past. It is still a popular car that's fun to drive. 288,300 deliveries and an 18% increase confirm that. 

BMW doesn't post regional sales for MINI. Europe and North America are major destinations for shipments. I don't know how the US's tariffs are going to affect sales there. For now, at least, 2025 was a success. 

Mexico Korea/China Car Production : 2025

Kia has had a plant here 2016 and JAC 2017 so both are relatively new. Kia is heavily export driven whereas for JAC its focus is more on the local market.

Kia: The plant has an annual 400,000 unit capacity so just under three quarters utilised at this time. Its purpose is to supply the American continent wtih about 75% of production exported. 

It also assembles Hyundai products, the current one being the Tucson. It isn't a major volume, making up less than 7% of production in 2025.

JAC: It assembles a range of vehicles, relying heavily on imported content from China. JAC recently increased capacity to 60,000 units per annum.  

It has a goal to develop more local suppliers. Some of the figures in the chart would only be viable with limited local content. 

The range is extensive, the models listed covering cars, SUVs, MPVs, vans and light trucks.  

Summary: Two very different assembly operations are shown here. One focused on fewer models at higher volume and the other the opposite. Yet they are both proving successful.  

Data source: INIGI. Photo source: Promexicoindustry.

BMW Brand Global Deliveries : 2023-25

BMW is a marque that puts emphasis on performance. A BMW advertiseing executive even coined the phrase "The ultimate driving machine". I've never driven one to prove that, but at least I can check out the sales performance.

BMW currently delivers about 2.2 million cars each year. The last time the figure was below 2 million was 2015. 

2025 again passed that mark and comfortably so. In the end it was 2.17 million units. Two consecutive years of reduced deliveries but only fractionally.

Regions: These figures include MINI and RR as BMW release them that way. That explains why the total figures are different. 

Europe is the largest region and is up 7%. Asia has been the leading are for deliveries since 2020 but now for a second year the runner up. Asia is still prominent but the only region down (-9%),  China within that region a drag on sales. The Americas is up 6% and 'Others' up 10%.

Mexico German Car Production : 2025

BMW, Mercedes-Benz and VW/Audi manufacture cars in Mexico. Wage costs, the proximity to the US and Mexico having extensive free trade agreements contribute to the desirability to have plants there. 

BMW: The 2-Series Coupe, M2 and 3-Series are made here. A battery assembly facility is also underway with BEV models to made here in future. 

Mercedes-Benz: The GLB is made at a joint venture plant with Nissan assembly but that will cease in mid 2026, ending M-B production in Mexico.

VW/Audi: The Audi Q5 is made here, along with three VW models. The Golf will come here in 2027 and BEV models are planned. 

Summary: In total, 634,800 vehicles were made here by German manufacturers. M-B soon leaving is a blip but there will be continued investment by the other two companies.

Data source: INEGI. Photo: VW.

France Top 50 Models: 2025

Below we have the usual colour coded chart showing the best selling passenger car models and which region they are associated with. There is no surprise that French brands and those owned by them are doing well. In addition, both the Yaris and Yaris Cross are also made in France. 

Data source: CCFA.

Photo source: Citroen (ë-C3) & Nissan (Qashqai) France.

Hong Kong Top 40 Model Sales : 2024-25

The chart below is colour coded to match countries or regions where they originated. I've put green for China and that shows the extent of the success their cars are having in Hong Kong.

Some of the movements are extreme, with new models enjoying huge success and others quickly falling away after a brief moment in the sun.

Data source: HK Transport Department.

Photo sources: BYD (above - Sealion 7) & Zeekr (below - 7x) Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Passenger Car Sales : 2025

There were 43,300 passenger car registrations, which were up 6% for the year. The first four months were down substantially, but the next eight more than compensated. 

For an open market without any import duty, to have two brand taking 44% of the total registrations is exceptional. Nearly one in four cars in 2025 were BYD models and for Tesla just over one in five. BYD's market share is up 58% and Tesla's down 10%. 

Zeekr, GAC Aion and Xpeng only arrived during 2024 but already are third to fifth! That sort of upheaval is unheard of. Toyota lost 39% of its share and that is something you won't see very often. 

Have the premium marques been spared the influx of the Chinese equivalents? BMW and Lexus have both lost half of their market share, Mercedes-Benz has lost 64% and Audi was down a huge 83%. 

There has to be a reason for this to be so pronounced. Hong Kong is offering incentives for electric cars (BEVs). Chinese brands are well placed to take advantage of that, hence a major reason for the surge we are seeing from them. 

Above the photographs are of the Denza 09, and below is the Deepal S07, which has just arrived during the year.

Data source: HK Transport Department.

Brands From China In The UK : 2025

The UK has seen a sudden rush of new Chinese brands entering the market. MG has been around since the demise of MG Rover but only reached five digit volume in 2019. 

The list to the right has UK ranking compared with all brands, market share and increase or decrease of sales. 

The list only covers brands that exclusively source cars from China.  

MG has an advantage of being well established before the recent invasion but with market share up only slightly they may be feeling the impact of the new arrivals. BYD is its usual aggressive self and the rest have arrived in 2024 or 2025, the latter shows a 'n/a'. 

I have yet to investigate other European markets but the UK would seem to have far more Chinese brands doing well. The EU has imposed tariffs on electric cars due to their claim of unfair subsidies. The UK isn't doing the same. I wonder how Nissan Leaf sales will go in the UK, as it is produced there and doesn't need unfair competition. 

Photo source: MG (HS), BYD (Dolphin Surf) & Nissan (Leaf).

Brands From China In Singapore : 2025

The chart to the right shows sales of brands that are based in China. 'Rk' is where they rank compared to all other brands, 'MS' is market share and +/- shows increase or decrease compared to 2024. 

BYD has raced to the top of the market, In 2021 it was the 31st most popular brand and now well ahead of the others and has 21% of the market. It has left Toyota/Lexus in its wake, which is not something that happens.  

No other brand is in the top 10 but those increases in the +/- column indicate that could soon change. The 'n/a' means they are new in 2025. 

With 32% of total sales now taken and done so quickly shows that the sky is the limit. It's like a swarm of locusts. Looking at the other brands, they all seem to have been affected. 

Data source: LTA Singapore. Photos: BYD (Seal) & GAC (Aion V). 

Brands From China In NZ : 2025

New Zealand has an open car market so any brand can set up shop here. Chinese brands have been arriving, with local car magazine NZ Autocar having many articles about all these new models that are coming in. This article here covers passenger cars only - not light commercial vehicles - and that would have added a few more brands. 

The question is just how successful will this new wave of Chinese entrants be? 

Apart from a few brand names, they are unfamiliar sounding. That doesn't appear to be an issue for some punters. One thing they offer is value for money and that will be enough for them to take the plunge. Long warranties help too.

Others with a more cautious approach will stick to the brands they already know and trust. I am of this persuasion. It's a lot of money to take any risk on but time can allay that fear. 

The chart shows what the current situation is. Those listed come to 12,800 registrations and 17.5% of the total sales YTD. The 'Rk' number is where they are on the chart with all brands included.

The top ranked brand is MG, which started selling in reasonable numbers back in 2019 and is currently sitting in 7th place. Its sales are up 35% on 2024.

Haval's break out year was 2018 and it holds 10th spot with a 24% sales gain and 2.8% market share. Ora arrived in 2023 but the rest were either 2024 or this year, 'n/a' shows the 2025 arrivals.

For now, it seems that Chinese brands will not be knocking off the top brands. They will take some sales from them, but will also take many sales from each other. Dealerships selling these new brands will spread further across the country, an important part of maximising sales, improving brand visibility and a more comprehensive customer support network. All that helps a brand's image.

Several more brands will soon be here, creating a congested market place for what is overall a modestly sized market. Some suggest there will be casualties, be that the new Chinese brands or some existing ones. 

Who survives would depend largely on whether importers can make a profit and feel the effort is worth it. What is certain is that Kiwis are spoiled for choice when contemplating buying a new car.

Data source: NZTA. Photo source: BYD (Sealion 6) top & Chery (Tiggo 8) below.

Brands From China In Australia : 2025

There has been an upsurge of cars made in China coming to Australia with one is five from there in 2025. Even a couple of years ago, that would have seemed far fetched. Now, no one would doubt that it will continue to grow. 

The chart to the right shows sales of brands that are based in China. It includes passenger cars and light commercials. 

Rk is where they rank compared to all brands, MS is market share and +/- shows increase over 12 months of 2024. There have been impressive gains plus a host of newbies.

BYD is in its third full year and already has 4.3% market penetration. MG and Haval are both in their 8th full year and while Haval did well in 2025, MG lost some ground. Xpeng is a close to exact as they don't report regularly.

New arrivals for the year have a 'n/a' in the +/- column to indicate that. 2026 will herald in yet more brands, which will be making it a crowded market place. There is such a thing as too much choice. 

Data source: FCAI. 

Photo source: GWM (Tank 300 model - above) & Deepal (E07- below) Australia. 

Vinfast Sales : 2024-25

Vinfast has delivered 197,000 cars for the year, up 102%. The company makes other forms of transport. The e-scooter and e-bike sales were 406,498 (+473%). For those who don't want or cannot afford a car, they have options. 

As an aside, e-scooter and e-bike deliveries will have benefitted from the announced plan to ban petrol powered motorbikes in the Hanoi city center starting in mid-2026. 

Vinfast had a net loss os $2.4 billion in Q1-Q3 2025, with Q3 being the worst. Dividing that figure by sales brings it to -$12,000 per unit. 

It is backed by Vingroup, which gives Vinfast the ability to continue even in the loss making situation it currently sits in. Obviously it needs to remedy this as soon as possible. Expansion is expensive so the financial situation is not totally unexpected. Maybe they could slow that down. 

Most sales are no doubt domestic although the company doesn't release any export data that I was able to find. 

We do know that Vinfast has just recently opened a plant in India and others are planned.  

The range kicks off with the VF 3 (photo above - tiny SUV) which starting reaching customers in the second half of 2024. 

The VF 5 city car (photo left) came out in 2023. It was initially known as the VF e32. 

The VF 6 also was released in 2024. It's a small crossover SUV being just over 4.2 metres in length or 167 inches. 

The VF 7 (picture below) was another car released in early 2024. It's a compact crossover which in my eyes has a wagon look about it. The red car (second from top) is the VF 8 medium large crossover SUV and the first deliveries commenced in late 2022. Lastly, at the top of the page is the VF 9 large crossover SUV. Deliveries were from early 2022.

For H1 2025, Vinfast did release domestic model sales for three of its models, 23,083 VF3 units were delivered, 21,812 VF5 and 8,552 VF6. They were described as "Topping the best seller charts in H12025 in Vietnam." I presume that means the segments they were selling in. 

Summary: As the Vietnamese market isn't large enough to support the brand, exports are essential. I would imagine the company would like that to progress more quickly than it is but reputations take time to be established. 

Some customers have complained about quality issues although others seem happy with their purchase. The US was seen as an important market to enter but that could be problematic with recent tariffs potentially limiting that opportunity, as well as reliability concerns. Overall, it comes across to me as a company in too much of a hurry.