The Largest Car Companies in the World (2022)
The Largest Car Companies in the World (2022). The question, “Which is the largest automobile company in the world?” is a common one, but which one is truly the biggest? Volkswagen, General Motors, Toyota, and the Volkswagen Group are just a few of the biggest names in the auto industry.
Listed below are some facts about each company. For more information, read about their respective companies. You can also check out our ranking of the world’s top automakers for more information.
The Largest Car Companies in the World (2022):
| Rank | Company | Country |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Toyota | Japan |
| #2 | Volkswagen | Germany |
| #3 | Daimler | Germany |
| #4 | Ford Motor | United States |
Daimler
Mercedes-Benz is the most popular brand of a passenger cars in the world, but Daimler is also a leader in truck manufacturing. The company was able to take advantage of the price rise of oil in the late 1970s by making trucks in countries outside Germany, including the United States. In 1981, Daimler purchased Freightliner Corp., a company that made heavy trucks, but its production was stymied by the U.S. recession.
In 1993, Daimler-Benz reported a loss for the first half of the year, the first since the end of World War II. A restructuring of the company’s finances occurred earlier that year, and many of its subsidiaries were sold. However, the company was able to turn things around and post record profits in 2012 and 2013.
As the automobile industry grew in popularity, the company began expanding its focus into high technology industries. Its largest export market was the United States, and sales of Mercedes Benz vehicles skyrocketed. However, in order to keep up with demand, Daimler-Benz made more cars than it could sell. In fact, its cars were the most popular in Germany and abroad during the 1980s. The Largest Car Companies in the World (2022). While remaining the largest automaker in the world, the company also sought to diversify into other areas of high technology. As a result, it bought AEG AG and Dornier GmbH, which were producing aircraft engines.
Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen are the two most popular luxury vehicle brands manufactured by Daimler. Daimler also manufactures commercial vehicles such as trucks, vans, and buses. Founded in 1926, Mercedes-Benz is the most popular brand of Mercedes-Benz. Despite its size, it is a diverse company with production facilities in seventeen countries. Daimler is the largest automobile company in the world, with nearly 8 million cars produced every year.
General Motors
For decades, General Motors was the largest automobile company in the world. But in the last decade, it has struggled as key rivals have pushed past it in the global sales race. General Motors is in danger of falling behind Toyota, Volkswagen, and the company formed by the merger of Peugeot and PSA. In the meantime, it’s buckling under the pressure of a global economy.
In the early 2000s, Jeep revolutionized the car market by producing the world’s first hybrid vehicle. The Prius, a hybrid that ran on gas and electricity, revolutionized the industry and paved the way for environmentally friendly automobiles. Although technically owned by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Jeep has enough impact on the automotive market to earn it a spot among the world’s top automakers.
The Largest Car Companies in the World (2022)
The company has manufacturing plants across eight countries. In China, it holds interests in Wuling Motors, Baojun, and DMAX through joint ventures. Other divisions include BrightDrop, a delivery service, and OnStar, a company that provides vehicle safety and information services. It also provides financing through GM Financial and operates ACDelco, a division of the auto parts company. The company is also involved in the development of self-driving vehicles through its majority ownership of Cruise LLC.
The GM story begins in the early 1800s with the Durant-Dort Carriage Company. William Durant, a wealthy automaker, bought the Buick Motor Company in 1904. GM quickly expanded and added Cadillac, Oldsmobile, and Elmore to its lineup. By the 1960s, General Motors had become the world’s largest automobile manufacturer, beating out Ford Motor Company.
Toyota
Toyota began manufacturing cars in the 1960s and rapidly expanded. In 1966, the company started exporting a large volume of automobiles worldwide. In 1967, the company bought Hino Motors and Daihatsu Motor Company, and in 1971, it surpassed Ford as the largest automaker in the world. In the following decade, Toyota gained a reputation as a cheap and fuel-efficient automobile company and released the Corolla, which would become one of the world’s bestselling cars.
In the 1970s, the Oil Crisis helped Toyota resurrect its fortunes. Gas prices spiked at that time, and Toyota’s compact cars helped it compete against the American car industry. In the past, Toyota has stressed efficiency and consistency in its factories and has strived to use as few parts as possible. This has helped Toyota become one of the world’s largest automobile manufacturers, and is expected to remain so for several years.
As of the end of 2011, Toyota holds 13% of the global market. In 2010 alone, Toyota sold 8.42 million vehicles compared to General Motors’ 8.39 million. While the latter has recovered from the economic slump, it is still behind Toyota in market share. In 2011, General Motors regained the global sales lead over Toyota after the Japanese earthquake and tsunami hit Japan in March and floods in Thailand in October 2011.
Volkswagen Group
The Volkswagen Group is the world’s largest automobile company and one of the top 10 companies by revenue. With 12 brands and 50 subsidiaries, the company is one of the largest and most successful carmakers. Owned by the Porsche-Piech family, the Volkswagen Group consistently outsells its competitors. In fact, the Volkswagen brand is the world’s most popular and iconic vehicle. The Volkswagen Group’s future plans include developing electric cars and developing autonomous driving technology.
In addition to gaining popularity worldwide, the Volkswagen brand has seen a recent resurgence in sales. While diesel remains strong seller in the United Kingdom, owners are threatening a class-action lawsuit. The company has also made inroads into new markets, including China, where its Golf model recently dethroned Volvo to top the new car sales charts for the first time. In China, the company’s cars are predominantly petrol-powered.
While the company does not have a huge investment in the growing light truck market, it is positioned well to compete in this area. It is collaborating with companies like ARGO AI and CARIAD to develop level four automated driving capabilities in passenger cars. By 2030, Volkswagen Group is expected to own its own fleet of autonomous shuttle vehicles. By the end of this decade, Volkswagen could be the biggest neuronal network of automobiles in the world.
SAIC Motor Corporation
The SAIC Motor Corporation is the largest automobile company in the world, with sales in excess of five million units in 2015. The company’s sales rose five percent from the previous year, putting it in 60th place on the 2014 Fortune Global 500 list. In addition to making and selling cars, SAIC Motor has invested heavily in its own brands, including Roewe and MG. In fact, 90% of the company’s sales are from vehicles manufactured through joint ventures. The company’s hi-tech Roewe flagship is named SAIC, as is its hi-tech Roewe luxury sedan.
In 2005, SAIC tried to acquire the British automaker MG Rover but was outbid by Nanjing Automobile. SAIC subsequently acquired the technology, which it was able to incorporate into new luxury sedans under the Roewe marque. In 2006, the SAIC Group acquired the light commercial vehicle company LDV and is now selling vans in China under the Maxus brand. It continues to use the LDV badge for vehicles sold in Australia and New Zealand.
In addition to MG, SAIC owns Morris Garages, Roewe, and Feifan. The Largest Car Companies in the World (2022). In 2016, SAIC sold more than one million cars in the world. This figure excludes cars manufactured under joint ventures. The company’s plans include putting 40-60 Robotaxies under pilot operation in Shanghai and Suzhou, and mass production in five years. The company also plans to build and sell the first electric car in China.
Citroen
Founded in 1798, Citroen is the largest automobile company in the world, with a production capacity of over seven million vehicles annually. The company has an impressive global presence, with manufacturing facilities in Iran, Greece, Romania, and the Czech Republic. It developed a compact car called the Axel in Romania and sold it in Western Europe as the Citroen C1.
Founded in 1919, Citroen was the first mass-production car manufacturer outside the United States. The company pioneered the modern concept of sales and services networks. It was the first automobile company to make a diesel-powered car. Despite its high-profile location in France, Citroen became the largest automobile company in Europe and the fourth largest in the world. Today, the company makes cars in more than 60 countries.
The company has sold over nine million cars worldwide. The company’s high-pressure hydraulic system, known as Hydropneumatic Suspension, absorbs road irregularities without disturbing the occupants. The suspension was once described as being like a magic carpet, rising to its operating ride height once the engine was turned on. Citroen has one of the world’s largest automotive factories.
Fiat-Chrysler is the largest automotive company in the world. Its subsidiaries include Peugeot, Cadillac, GMC, and Holden. Renault, meanwhile, is the largest automaker in France. Citroen is a French company that specializes in smaller cars. Fiat-Chrysler and Citroen are merging in 2021 to form Stellaris.
