Geely overtakes BYD as top-selling Chinese automaker in Q1 2026 global rankings

Geely surpassed BYD to become the highest‑selling Chinese carmaker worldwide in the first quarter of 2026, moving ahead in the global ranking of automotive groups. The analysis of 56 groups and 129 brands shows overall market sales of 21.15‑21.20 million vehicles, a 1.9‑2.3 % year‑on‑year decline. Toyota retained the overall lead, while Volkswagen fell to second place and Hyundai‑Kia held third. Stellantis posted the strongest growth among the top fifteen, up 12 % driven by Fiat and Ram. General Motors saw a 6 % drop, and BYD fell from sixth to eleventh after a 30 % sales plunge, largely due to intense price competition in China. Geely’s stable volumes were supported by growth at its Zeekr and Lynk & Co brands, offsetting slower performance at Volvo. Chinese brands’ global market share slipped from 24.4 % to 23.5 %, indicating a possible stabilization after years of rapid expansion.