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The number one country in terms of car companies at 267 automobile manufacturers, the United States manufactured approximately 10.6 million vehicles in 2023, well below China’s output, which reached about 31 million vehicles in 2024. The U.S. also operates under distinct regulatory frameworks for both the automotive industry and labor market.
Most manufacturing plants, if not all of the big ones in the United States, are unionized. The same does apply to China, but the labor costs are still significantly lower, and China has a larger labor pool to draw from.
In 2024, General Motors sold approximately 2.70 million vehicles, securing the top spot in the U.S. market. Toyota followed with about 2.33 million units, and Ford came in third with roughly 2.08 million vehicles sold.
The United Kingdom is home to 172 car manufacturers, a mix of global giants, luxury marques, and specialized niche builders. Despite its relatively small domestic market, the U.K. remains a cornerstone of automotive engineering, hosting major brands such as Jaguar Land Rover, Mini, Aston Martin, Bentley, and Rolls-Royce, alongside dozens of independent and electric-vehicle startups. While national vehicle output—around 780,000 units in 2024—has declined in recent years, the country continues to lead in design innovation, motorsport engineering, and next-generation EV development.
When it comes to car companies by country, China is near the top of the list with 149 automobile manufacturers. The country also leads the world in vehicle production, thanks to low labor costs, strong government support, and extensive domestic demand. In 2023, China produced about 30.16 million vehicles, accounting for roughly 32% of global output. Of these, approximately 26.1 million were passenger cars and 4 million were commercial vehicles. The largest automaker is SAIC Motor Corporation, which produced more than 5 million units that year.
Being home to 121 car companies, Germany is fourth on the list of countries with the most car manufacturers. Germany houses such famous brands as Porsche, Volkswagen, BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz. In total, Germany produced about 4.1 million vehicles in 2023, improving from the slump during the pandemic. That said, production remains 12% below the 2019 level.
With about 26 car manufacturing companies active, Japan remains a major player in the global auto industry. It produced approximately [8.57 million vehicles in 2023[(https://www.marklines.com/en/statistics/product/jp_pro2023)—a rebound from the slump in 2022 when production fell to about 7.84 million units. The decline in 2022 was largely due to the pandemic-induced supply chain disruptions, but the industry has since stabilized, with 2024 production estimates pointing toward similar or modestly higher levels.