What is the biggest electric car company?

The biggest electric car company is BYD. It sold 1.8 million EVs in the first half of 2026, over 1 million more than any other company.

How many EVs were sold in 2025?

There were 21 million EVs sold in 2025. That's a 24% increase from 2024.

What percentage of vehicles sold in 2025 were electric?

EVs accounted for 25% of vehicles sold in 2025.

How many Chinese EV manufacturers are there?

There are many Chinese EV manufacturers, though the exact number fluctuates. However, six of the top 10 largest EV manufacturers in the world in 2026 are headquartered in China. The biggest three Chinese EV manufacturers are BYD, Geely Auto Group, and Chery Group.

Largest EV Companies in 2026

There were 21 million electric vehicles (EVs) sold in 2025 -- who's building them?

By Lyle Daly – Updated Sep 30, 2026 at 3:00 PM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

BYD Company led in EV production in H1 2026, manufacturing 1.8 million EVs.
Tesla saw a 25% increase in EV deliveries in Q2 2026 after prior declines.
Geely Automobile's EV sales rose by 10% year-over-year in H1 2026.

BYD Company (BYDDY +0.73%) ranked no. 1 in EV production by manufacturer over the first half of 2026. It manufactured 1.8 million EVs, almost 1 million more than any other automaker.

The competition is tight and shifting below BYD, with Tesla (TSLA +0.66%) bouncing back and Geely Automobile (GELYF +0.00%) building momentum.

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Line of electric cars being charged. — Image Source: Getty Images

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The largest EV companies

The largest EV manufacturers

Data source: EV sales/deliveries from each manufacturer or trade press.
Manufacturer	BEV	FCEV	PHEV/EREV	Total	Metric
BYD	-	-	-	1,808,511	Sales
Tesla Inc.	-	-	-	838,149	Deliveries
Geely Auto Group (exluding Volvo)	711,486	-	311,588	799,454	Sales
SAIC Motor	-	-	-	796,000	Sales
VW Group	438,463	-	245,507	683,970	Deliveries
Chery Group	-	-	-	475,238	Sales
Changan Automobile	92,291	-	-	414,201	Sales
BMW Group	204,295	-	91,112	295,407	Deliveries
Toyota Motor Corp.	193,172	360	95,428	288,960	Sales
GAC Group	-	-	-	260,158	Sales
Renault Group	-	-	-	~219,000	Sales, Europe passenger cars (derived)
Kia	-	-	-	196,000	Retail sales
Li Auto	-	-	-	193,472	Deliveries
Seres Group	-	-	178,777	178,777	Sales
Mercedes-Benz Group	97,110	-	71,702	168,812	Deliveries, cars only
Volvo Car Group	79,502	-	81,469	160,971	Retail sales
Great Wall Motor	-	-	-	160,435	Sales
Hyundai Motor	79,222	2,829	5,837	87,888	Sales (mixed retail/wholesale)
Voyah (Dongfeng's NEV sub-brand)	-	-	-	76,264	Deliveries
GM	-	-	-	56,679	U.S. retail sales (derived sum)

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1. BYD

OTC: BYDDY

BYD Company

Today's Change

(0.73%) $0.07

Current Price

$9.67

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$35B

Day's Range

$9.58 - $9.77

52wk Range

$9.21 - $14.58

Volume

880.7K

Avg Vol

1.2M

Gross Margin

16.44%

Dividend Yield

0.55%

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Headquarters: China
Founded: 1995
EVs sold in H1 2026: 1,808,511

Chinese conglomerate BYD Company, which stands for "Build Your Dreams," is the global leader in EV manufacturing. It produces personal and commercial EVs and EV batteries. Although still dominant, BYD saw its sales decline by 15.7% year over year in the first half of 2026 due to a price war in China and a transition in Blade Battery production.

2. Tesla

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NASDAQ: TSLA

Tesla

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

64/100

Today's Change

(0.71%) $2.52

Current Price

$357.33

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$1.4T

Day's Range

$353.80 - $359.79

52wk Range

$297.38 - $498.83

Volume

22.1M

Avg Vol

38.6M

Gross Margin

18.85%

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Headquarters: United States
Founded: 2003
EVs delivered in H1 2026: 838,149

Tesla is the largest automaker by market cap and offers several popular EVs, including the Model 3 and Model Y. After two years of declining deliveries, Tesla posted strong results in the second quarter of 2026, with 25% year-over-year growth.

3. Geely Automobile

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OTC: GELYF

Geely Automobile

Today's Change

(0.00%) $0.00

Current Price

$1.96

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$21B

Day's Range

$1.85 - $2.06

52wk Range

$1.71 - $3.30

Volume

47.7K

Avg Vol

57.8K

Gross Margin

17.32%

Dividend Yield

3.26%

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Headquarters: China
Founded: 1986
EVs sold in H1 2026: 799,454

One of the top automotive companies in China, Geely Automobile controls quite a few auto brands around the world and is growing quickly. Its EV sales in the first half of 2026 increased 10% year over year.

4. SAIC Motor Corporation

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Headquarters: China
Founded: 1997
EVs sold in H1 2026: 796,000

SAIC Motor Corporation is a state-owned Chinese automaker. It manufactures its own car brands, including MG Motor and Roewe, as well as joint ventures through manufacturing partnerships.

5. Volkswagen

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FRA: VOW

Volkswagen Ag

Today's Change

(-1.69%) $-1.20

Current Price

$69.80

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$36B

Day's Range

$69.80 - $69.80

52wk Range

$69.80 - $110.90

Avg Vol

339.7

Gross Margin

16.59%

Dividend Yield

7.26%

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Headquarters: Germany
Founded: 1937
EVs delivered in H1 2026: 683,970 (438,463 BEVs, 245,507 PHEVs/EREVs)

German auto giant Volkswagen (VOW -1.69%) started developing EVs in 1970 through its Centre for Future Research led by Dr. Adolf Kalberlah. It announced in 2017 that it was making them a focus for the consumer market. The ID. series is its current EV lineup, including the ID.3 hatchback, the ID.4 crossover SUV, and the ID.7 sedan.

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6. Chery Automobile

Headquarters: China
Founded: 1997
EVs sold in H1 2026: 475,238

Chery Automobile, another one of China's largest automakers, is owned by the Wuhu municipal government. Chery New Energy is this car company's EV subsidiary, with models that include the Arrizo e, eQ1, and QQ Ice Cream.

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7. Changan Automobile Group

Headquarters: China
Founded: 1862
EVs sold in H1 2026: 414,201

While some automakers on this list have only been around for a few decades, Changan Automobile Group was founded over 150 years ago. This state-owned automaker was originally a military supply company before it began manufacturing cars in 1959. Changan's EV brands are Changan Nevo, an entry-level line, Deepal, and Avatr Technology, a premium EV brand and joint venture with multiple other companies.

8. BMW

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OTC: BMWYY

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft

Today's Change

(0.00%) $0.00

Current Price

$0.00

Key Data Points

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Headquarters: Germany
Founded: 1916
EVs delivered in H1 2026: 295,407 (204,295 BEVs, 91,112 PHEVs/EREVs)

Luxury vehicle manufacturer BMW Group (OTC:BMWYY) has its EV lineup under the i sub-brand, which includes the i4, i5, and i7. Among its other brands, Mini and Rolls-Royce have each launched their own EVs, including the Mini Countryman SE ALL4 and the Rolls-Royce Spectre.

9. Toyota Motor

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NYSE: TM

Toyota Motor

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

78/100

Today's Change

(0.03%) $0.05

Current Price

$183.15

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$217B

Day's Range

$182.31 - $184.63

52wk Range

$166.10 - $248.90

Volume

217.2K

Avg Vol

377.1K

Gross Margin

16.74%

Dividend Yield

1.57%

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Headquarters: Japan
Founded: 1937
EVs sold in H1 2026: 288,960 (193,172 BEVs, 360 FCEVs, 95,428 PHEVs/EREVs)

Toyota Motor (TM +0.03%) is the leading automaker in total production volume, and its growing lineup of EVs has put it in the top 10 there, as well. Its EV lineup includes the bZ, C-HR EV, and Highlander EV.

10. Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC Group)

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OTC: GNZUF

Guangzhou Automobile Group

Today's Change

(8.50%) $0.03

Current Price

$0.33

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$3.3B

Day's Range

$0.32 - $0.33

52wk Range

$0.23 - $0.56

Volume

500

Avg Vol

1.4K

Gross Margin

-168.37%

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Headquarters: China
Founded: 1997
EVs sold in H1 2026: 260,158

Guangzhou Automobile Group (GNZUF +8.50%), also known as GAC Group, is a state-owned Chinese automaker that sells across dozens of international markets. Its main EV brand is the GAC Aion, and it also offers Hyptec, a luxury line.

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Companies 11-20.

Renault (RNSDF +0.00%) ranks 11th based on sales of European passenger cars -- the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance would almost certainly rank higher, but Nissan and Mitsubishi don't provide EV-specific data. Stellantis (STLA +2.64%) is also absent from this list of top EV companies due to not providing EV data.

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Data source: EV sales/deliveries from each manufacturer or trade press.
Manufacturer	Total	Metric
Renault Group	~219,000	Sales, Europe passenger cars (derived)
Kia	196,000	Retail sales
Li Auto	193,472	Deliveries
Seres Group	178,777	Sales
Mercedes-Benz Group	168,812	Deliveries, cars only
Volvo Car Group	160,971	Retail sales
Great Wall Motor	160,435	Sales
Hyundai Motor	87,888	Sales (mixed retail/wholesale)
Voyah	76,264	Deliveries
GM	56,679	U.S. retail sales (derived sum)

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2025 EV manufacturing

Here were the leading EV manufacturers in 2025.

Data source: EV sales/deliveries from each manufacturer or trade press.
Manufacturer	BEV	FCEV	PHEV/EREV	Total	Metric
BYD	2,256,714 (passenger)	0	2,288,709 (passenger)	4,602,436	Sales
Geely Auto Group (excluding Volvo)	-	-	-	1,687,767	Sales
Tesla	1,636,129	0	0	1,636,129	Deliveres
SAIC Motor	-	-	-	1,642,785	Sales
VW Group	983,100	-	427,980	1,411,080	Deliveries
Changan Automobile	-	-	-	~1,110,000	Sales
Dongfeng Motor Group	-	-	-	562,833	Sales
Chery Automobile	-	-	-	~826,500	Sales
BMW Group	442,072	-	200,015	642,087	Deliveries
Hyundai Motor	269,169	7,047	44,124	320,340	Retail sales
Seres Group	-	-	-	472,269	Sales
GAC AION (GAC's NEV brand -- group-wide FY2025 total not disclosed)	-	-	-	181,579	Sales
Li Auto	-	-	-	406,343	Deliveries
Great Wall Motor	-	-	-	403,653	Sales
Toyota Motor	199,137	1,257	183,845	384,239	Sales
Mercedes-Benz Cars	168,800	~200,000 (derived)	-	368,600	Sales (cars only, excluding vans)
Volvo Car Group	-	-	-	323,294	Retail sales
GM (U.S. only)	-	-	-	169,887	U.S. retail sales

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Global EV sales

EV sales and their share of total vehicle sales worldwide have grown rapidly in recent years. Since 2020, global EV sales have increased by about 3.6 million per year, and EV sales share is over five times higher. Projections by the International Energy Agency indicate that EV sales will accelerate further through 2035.

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Source: International Energy Agency, Global EV Outlook 2026.
Year	EV Sales	EV Sales Share
2020	3,000,000	4.4%
2021	6,600,000	9.3%
2022	10,000,000	15.0%
2023	14,000,000	18.0%
2024	17,000,000	21.0%
2025	21,000,000	25.0%
2035*	55,000,000	53.0%

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However, the U.S. EV market appears to be slowing down. Sales and EV sales share were both slightly lower in 2025 than in 2024 due to policy shifts, including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. While new EV sales had increased in the first three quarters of the year, they dropped 45% year over year in Q4 2025.

Europe, on the other hand, saw EV sales surge by over 30% in 2025 as policies targeting emissions reductions came into effect. China maintained its position as the worldwide leader for EV sales and sales share. It sold 13 million EVs last year, accounting for 53.0% of its total vehicle sales. That's nearly two-thirds of total EV sales worldwide.

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Source: International Energy Agency, Global EV Outlook 2026.
Year	U.S. EV Sales	U.S. EV Sales Share	China EV Sales	China EV Sales Share	Europe EV Sales	Europe EV Sales Share
2020	300,000	2.3%	1,100,000	5.7%	1,400,000	10.0%
2021	630,000	4.7%	3,300,000	16.0%	2,300,000	17.0%
2022	990,000	7.7%	6,000,000	29.0%	2,700,000	21.0%
2023	1,400,000	9.7%	8,100,000	38.0%	3,200,000	22.0%
2024	1,600,000	10.0%	11,000,000	48.0%	3,200,000	21.0%
2025	1,500,000	10.0%	13,000,000	53.0%	4,200,000	28.0%
2035*	3,100,000	20.0%	26,000,000	94.0%	14,000,000	85.0%

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Average EV prices

Drivers pay a premium for EVs, at least in terms of the up-front price. The average transaction price for a new EV was $54,754 in August 2026, according to Kelley Blue Book data. For gas-powered vehicles, it was $50,089. That's a 9.4% premium for EVs, down from over 16% a year prior.

EVs are much more affordable in China. There are more than 200 battery-powered models, including hybrids, available for less than the equivalent of $25,000, according to DCar, an information and trading platform.

For Europe, using Germany as a proxy in a report by the International Council on Clean Transportation, the median nominal BEV price rose 42% over 2020 to 2025, going from 37,000 euros to 53,000 euros. However, this increase was primarily due to a shift toward larger, more expensive BEVs. When tracking individual BEV models and controlling for changes, the report found that nominal BEV prices remained stable from 2020 to 2025.

Over the same period, the median nominal price of gas-powered vehicles increased 15% from 41,000 euros to 46,000 euros. Adjusted for inflation, the median price of gas-powered vehicles rose by about 2%, and median BEV prices decreased by about 18%.

The table below tracks the "electric premium" (the average cost of an EV as a percentage of a gas-powered car) from 2018 through 2023.

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Data source: International Energy Agency.
Region	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
United States	57%	60%	47%	45%	48%	21%
China	49%	21%	32%	22%	5%	-6%
Europe	34%	52%	44%	38%	40%	38%

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China dominates EV manufacturing

China leads the way for EV manufacturing and adoption. Chinese automakers make up six of the top 10 EV manufacturers, and more than half of new cars purchased in China are EVs.

Emissions policies in Europe have driven growth for its EV market. The U.S. is moving in the opposite direction. Although it's home to one of the largest manufacturers in Tesla, as well as many popular EV stocks and EV ETFs, its market has stagnated due to policies ending EV tax credits and limited progress on charging infrastructure.

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Sources

International Council on Clean Transportation (2026). "Price and market trends of battery electric and internal combustion engine vehicles in Germany, 2020–2025."
International Energy Agency (2024). "Battery electric car price premium compared to internal combustion engine cars, 2018-2023."
International Energy Agency (2026). "Global EV Outlook 2026."
Kelley Blue Book (2026). "How Much Are Electric Cars?"
Reuters (2026). "For the average price of a car in the US, you could buy 5 new Chinese EVs."

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FAQs

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About the Author

Lyle Daly is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering information technology and cryptocurrency. Lyle has been a contributor at the financial services company since 2018. His work has been featured on USA Today, Yahoo Finance, MSN, Fox Business, and Nasdaq. Before joining The Motley Fool, he wrote for financial brands including Intuit.

TMFLyleDaly

@LyleDaly

Lyle Daly has positions in Tesla. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends BYD Company, General Motors, and Volkswagen Ag. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Largest EV Companies in 2026: EV Sales by Manufacturer

There were 21 million electric vehicles (EVs) sold in 2025 -- who's building them?

Key Points

The largest EV companies

The largest EV manufacturers

1. BYD

Key Data Points

2. Tesla

Key Data Points

3. Geely Automobile

Key Data Points

4. SAIC Motor Corporation

5. Volkswagen

Key Data Points

6. Chery Automobile

7. Changan Automobile Group

8. BMW

Key Data Points

9. Toyota Motor

Key Data Points

10. Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC Group)

Key Data Points

Companies 11-20.

2025 EV manufacturing

Global EV sales

Average EV prices

China dominates EV manufacturing

Methodology

Sources

FAQs

What is the biggest electric car company?

What is the biggest electric car company?

How many EVs were sold in 2025?

How many EVs were sold in 2025?

What percentage of vehicles sold in 2025 were electric?

What percentage of vehicles sold in 2025 were electric?

How many Chinese EV manufacturers are there?

How many Chinese EV manufacturers are there?

About the Author

Read Next

Stocks Mentioned

Motley Fool Stock Advisor’s Latest Pick

Premium Investing Services

Key Data Points

2. Tesla

Key Data Points

3. Geely Automobile

4. SAIC Motor Corporation

5. Volkswagen

6. Chery Automobile

7. Changan Automobile Group

8. BMW

Key Data Points

10. Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC Group)

Global EV sales

Average EV prices

China dominates EV manufacturing

Methodology

Sources

FAQs

What is the biggest electric car company?

What is the biggest electric car company?

How many EVs were sold in 2025?

How many EVs were sold in 2025?

What percentage of vehicles sold in 2025 were electric?

What percentage of vehicles sold in 2025 were electric?

How many Chinese EV manufacturers are there?

How many Chinese EV manufacturers are there?

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Companies 11-20.

9. Toyota Motor