Top 10 Car Brands in the World 2020

We have assembled in this article a ranking of the world’s biggest automotive brands based on sales market metric. Automobile firms, also known as car makers, are one of the world’s main sales markets. These top brands include a vast number of businesses and organisations, some of which are called automakers, engaged in the design, production, manufacture, manufacturing and marketing of motor vehicles. The world’s best automotive firms market a variety of cars like sedans, hatchbacks, SUVs, trucks and buses.

Top Car Brands by Revenue

The list of top car brands in the world include Toyota, Volkswagen, Daimler, GM followed by Ford, Honda, SAIC, BMW etc. Here is a list of the top 10 car brands in the world 2020.

10. Nissan Motor

Nissan Motor Corporation is a Japanese automaker having been established in the year 1933 at the Yokohama city in Japan.

Image: pixabay

Since then the company has evolved itself into a truly global company and has a strong global presence across all continents. The company is involved in the sales and manufacturing of automotive products such as automobiles, trucks and buses as well as other related auto-products.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?guci=2.2.0.0.2.2.0.0&client=ca-pub-3439485215941617&output=html&h=280&slotname=8644422061&adk=1930902258&adf=559337713&pi=t.ma~as.8644422061&w=336&fwrn=4&lmt=1609596189&rafmt=12&psa=1&format=336×280&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mbaskool.com%2Ffun-corner%2Ftop-brand-lists%2F17621-top-10-car-brands-in-the-world.html&flash=0&efwr=0&wgl=1&uach=WyJXaW5kb3dzIiwiMTAuMCIsIng4NiIsIiIsIjg3LjAuNDI4MC44OCIsW11d&tt_state=W3siaXNzdWVyT3JpZ2luIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9hZHNlcnZpY2UuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbSIsInN0YXRlIjowfSx7Imlzc3Vlck9yaWdpbiI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXR0ZXN0YXRpb24uYW5kcm9pZC5jb20iLCJzdGF0ZSI6MH1d&dt=1609596193868&bpp=13&bdt=1198&idt=235&shv=r20201203&cbv=r20190131&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Dc54bf576a6277f9e-220e00b14ac500ae%3AT%3D1608556031%3ART%3D1608556031%3AS%3DALNI_MaHluDTNjJGgH6eKlSXJY29sxo7PA&prev_fmts=336×280&correlator=7932724723176&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1479738378.1608556038&ga_sid=1609596194&ga_hid=217042502&ga_fc=1&u_tz=330&u_his=4&u_java=0&u_h=768&u_w=1366&u_ah=728&u_aw=1366&u_cd=24&u_nplug=3&u_nmime=4&adx=328&ady=972&biw=1357&bih=625&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&eid=21068768&oid=3&pvsid=1102331186171508&pem=635&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&rx=0&eae=0&fc=640&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1366%2C0%2C1366%2C728%2C1366%2C625&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7CoeEbr%7C&abl=CS&pfx=0&fu=8448&bc=31&ifi=2&uci=a!2&btvi=1&fsb=1&xpc=UQVhj68rRd&p=https%3A//www.mbaskool.com&dtd=250

The company has its manufacturing facilities in as many as 20 countries worldwide and customers in more than 160 different nations.  The company owns a diverse range of world renowned brands which operates to produce a wide variety of products. The company’s well known revolutionary products ranges from the 100% electric Nissan Leaf to the super-performer Nismo. The company is also heavily investing in a portfolio of “green” technologies which includes clean diesels, efficient internal-combustion engines and hybrids. The company also gives special focus on the producing the zero emission vehicles, such as electric cars and fuel cell vehicles. Nissan is also known for its operations through forming strategic alliances. Renault currently has roughly around 43 percent share of Nissan while the Japanese carmaker has a 15 percent stake in its French counterpart. According to a recent report, there are chances that a deal would end the current alliance between the companies and marry them as one corporation. On September 2017 Nissan acquired a $2.2 billion controlling stake in Mitsubishi and hence making Mitsubishi an equal partner in the Renault-Nissan Alliance. The new name of the alliance now runs as Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance. Nissan motors is among the top car brands in the world.

Revenue (Bn $): 96

9. BMW group

BMW group abbreviated as Bayerische Motoren Werke Group is one of the leading manufacturers of premium automobiles and motorcycles and one of the top car brands in the world.

Image: pixabay

Besides, the company also acts as the provider of premium financial and mobility services. The company trace back its inception in the year 1916 with its current headquarter in Munich, Germany and it has evolved itself as a truly global company with as many as 30+ production and assembly facilities in many countries and a global sales network. The company’s total employee strength is 120,000+ out of which around 90 percent of the employees are in automobile segment. BMW major models includes BMWi which is electric vehicles leading the way in alternative drive trains, lightweight design and aerodynamics, BMW M which is a pioneer in authentic motor-racing functionality with exclusive, sporty aesthetic appeal, Mini, Mini John Cooper Works, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars which is a very popular premium segment automobile and Motorrad, the motorcycle brand. The company is owned mostly by The Quandt family who are long-term shareholders of the company while the remaining stocks are owned by public float. BMW has a tradition of exceptional innovations. The company was the first to design aircraft engine with aluminum piston in the year 1917. It also designed the BMW328 which was the most successful car of 1930s by making its chassis lightweight and aluminum cylinder heads. Infact, the company has a significant motorsport history, especially in touring cars, Formula 1, sports cars and the Isle of Man TT. According to the recent report, more than 20 BMWs are participating in the Formula One.

Revenue (Bn $): 116

8. Fiat Chrysler

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is one of the leading car brands in the world.

Image: company website

The company engaged in the designing, engineering, manufacturing and selling of vehicles and related parts and services, components and production systems. The company has its operations and customer base worldwide through 150+ state-of-the art manufacturing facilities, many R&D centers, and dealers and distributors in nearly 150 countries. In 2014, the company was formed by bringing together Fiat and Chrysler into a new holding company, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. The company is among the top car companies in terms of revenue. The list of brands that the company works with are Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati etc the parts and service brand. The Group’s businesses also include engineering and manufacturing of iron, steel, systems etc. The total employee strength of the firm is around 236,000 employees generating a total revenue of 100+ billion euros. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles also engages in the mass production of self-driving vehicles by collaborating with Waymo which is refereed to as the first-of-its kind collaboration. The company has already delivered Pacifica Hybrid minivans to Waymo which was adapted for self-driving during the second half of 2016 and an additional 500 in 2017.

Revenue (Bn $): 121https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?guci=2.2.0.0.2.2.0.0&client=ca-pub-3439485215941617&output=html&h=280&slotname=7996535201&adk=2152353968&adf=2165351670&pi=t.ma~as.7996535201&w=336&lmt=1609596189&rafmt=12&psa=1&format=336×280&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mbaskool.com%2Ffun-corner%2Ftop-brand-lists%2F17621-top-10-car-brands-in-the-world.html&flash=0&wgl=1&adsid=ChEIgNDA_wUQot3664blgNGdARImALF5s5LxqloQ13EuILsezeX04jDsopi8lsFhqwatvxbpwXblZmQ&uach=WyJXaW5kb3dzIiwiMTAuMCIsIng4NiIsIiIsIjg3LjAuNDI4MC44OCIsW11d&tt_state=W3siaXNzdWVyT3JpZ2luIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9hZHNlcnZpY2UuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbSIsInN0YXRlIjowfSx7Imlzc3Vlck9yaWdpbiI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXR0ZXN0YXRpb24uYW5kcm9pZC5jb20iLCJzdGF0ZSI6MH1d&dt=1609596193881&bpp=6&bdt=1211&idt=254&shv=r20201203&cbv=r20190131&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Dc54bf576a6277f9e-220e00b14ac500ae%3AT%3D1608556031%3ART%3D1608556031%3AS%3DALNI_MaHluDTNjJGgH6eKlSXJY29sxo7PA&prev_fmts=336×280%2C336x280%2C336x280%2C300x600%2C0x0&nras=1&correlator=7932724723176&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1479738378.1608556038&ga_sid=1609596194&ga_hid=217042502&ga_fc=1&u_tz=330&u_his=4&u_java=0&u_h=768&u_w=1366&u_ah=728&u_aw=1366&u_cd=24&u_nplug=3&u_nmime=4&adx=328&ady=4272&biw=1357&bih=625&scr_x=0&scr_y=1779&eid=21068768&oid=3&psts=AGkb-H8E7bk0vx3P99d36B77P8-k2COqNgj_UeM7TOXUx9PezHDXGfJyiwPunAZfY8emfg%2CAGkb-H_gXdbxcjGJyQNbNWb8v4Ckcqwb5TjLB49V3zzxL536fIx4Sl6u9O_M0G6EkZNiZA%2CAGkb-H8Q3Gxk0sRTmYD1mh-zHU-TMDRYucGFT-2-p00SUGa_QiaXnQqaNnU6aVMvw3-gQw&pvsid=1102331186171508&pem=635&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&rx=0&eae=0&fc=896&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1366%2C0%2C1366%2C728%2C1366%2C625&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7CoeEbr%7C&abl=CS&pfx=0&fu=8448&bc=31&jar=2021-01-02-14&ifi=3&uci=a!3&btvi=3&fsb=1&xpc=ixf8anEbiT&p=https%3A//www.mbaskool.com&dtd=23344

7. SAIC Motor

SAIC Motor Corporation Limited is the largest Chinese automaker enlisted in the Fortune 500 Global list.

Image: company website

The company has made to the elite list twelfth time in a row, reflecting on the company’s ever-expanding business. The company is also considered as belonging to the “Big 4” Chinese top car brands owned by the government and has its headquarter in Shanghai, China but is operating worldwide. The company’s main business includes vehicles, components, auto trade & services, and financing. SAIC Motor has been dominating the auto market in China since 2006.with its current Domestic market share stands at around 23%. The Company has a new SAIC plant coming up in Thailand and is involved in constructing the vehicle and auto-parts park in Indonesian. They have also negotiated for the acquisition of GM India factory. In the international operation, the Company has witnessed a higher sales volume in the overseas key regional markets where the sales of MG brand and Maxus light commercial vehicles both increased by 20% and 53% respectively.  The company also operates through many joint ventures with renowned brands. Along with VW, SAIC has sold more than two million cars in China alone. SGMW maintained the first place in the sales market of vehicles in China and successfully broke into Top four companies with the largest sales volume of passenger vehicles in the domestic market.

Revenue (Bn $): 121

6. General Motors

General Motors is a global automotive company established in the year 1908.

Image: pixabay

With its global headquarter at Detroit, USA, the company operates in five continents across many countries. With an employee strength of 180,000 from 70+ nationalities, the company has a very diverse and dedicated team. General Motors functions with eight renowned distinctive brands across the globe which includes, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Holden, Baojun, Wuling, and Jiefang. The company offers vehicles ranging from electric cars to heavy-duty full-sized trucks which talks volume about the firm’s global reach. The company has shown a remarkable performance the previous year. In 2017, the company delivered 9 million vehicles globally through its dealers which counts to over 12,450 selling vehicles in 125 different countries. General Motors is also going to open five new manufacturing facilities in China by this year end to support sales of nearly 5 million vehicles annually. The company also created the affordable all-electric Chevrolet bolt EV which offers up to an EPA-estimated 238 miles of pure electric range on a full charge. The company has been appreciated multiple times for its quality and performance. Chevrolet won the 2016 Motor Trend car and truck of the year, it has 19 2016-models with a 5-star overall vehicle score which is more than any manufacturer selling in USA and Chevrolet Volt is two-times winner of the Green Car of the Year Award. General Motors designed the crash test dummies which is now a global standard for frontal crash testing among top car brands all over. It is also the first North American Auto Manufacturer to build a roll over test facility.

Revenue (Bn $): 137

5. Honda Motor

Honda Motor Company is a Japanese multinational automotive and motorcycle company with its presence all around the globe.

Image: pixabay

The company deals in automobiles, aircraft, motorcycles, and power equipment and even boasts about running of Honda equipment or vehicles in all seven different continents including Antarctica. The company was incorporated in 1948 by Soichiro Honda and is headquartered at Tokyo, Japan. Honda is the sixth largest automobile manufacturer in the world behind Toyota, Volkswagen Group, Daimler, General Motors and Ford Motors among Fortune 500 Global companies.  Founded in Japan in the year 1948, Honda have had a tremendous journey to being one of the leading manufacturers of the world. From opening of its first U.S. outlet in in 1950s, the company quickly grew fast to become a global brand.  Honda Motor became the first car company from Japan to be a net exporter from the United States, exporting 100,000+ Honda and Acura models, while importing 85000+. The Honda Clarity Series Cars which are the plug-in hybrid electric and hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles has been named 2018 Green Car of the Year. Honda has some of the leading car brands and variants selling worldwide, namely City, CRV etc.

Revenue (Bn $): 142https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?guci=2.2.0.0.2.2.0.0&client=ca-pub-3439485215941617&output=html&h=280&slotname=7357952981&adk=3039271839&adf=113288376&pi=t.ma~as.7357952981&w=336&lmt=1609596189&rafmt=12&psa=1&format=336×280&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mbaskool.com%2Ffun-corner%2Ftop-brand-lists%2F17621-top-10-car-brands-in-the-world.html&flash=0&wgl=1&adsid=ChEIgNDA_wUQot3664blgNGdARImALF5s5LxqloQ13EuILsezeX04jDsopi8lsFhqwatvxbpwXblZmQ&uach=WyJXaW5kb3dzIiwiMTAuMCIsIng4NiIsIiIsIjg3LjAuNDI4MC44OCIsW11d&tt_state=W3siaXNzdWVyT3JpZ2luIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9hZHNlcnZpY2UuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbSIsInN0YXRlIjowfSx7Imlzc3Vlck9yaWdpbiI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXR0ZXN0YXRpb24uYW5kcm9pZC5jb20iLCJzdGF0ZSI6MH1d&dt=1609596193887&bpp=5&bdt=1217&idt=253&shv=r20201203&cbv=r20190131&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Dc54bf576a6277f9e-220e00b14ac500ae%3AT%3D1608556031%3ART%3D1608556031%3AS%3DALNI_MaHluDTNjJGgH6eKlSXJY29sxo7PA&prev_fmts=336×280%2C336x280%2C336x280%2C300x600%2C0x0%2C336x280&nras=1&correlator=7932724723176&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1479738378.1608556038&ga_sid=1609596194&ga_hid=217042502&ga_fc=1&u_tz=330&u_his=4&u_java=0&u_h=768&u_w=1366&u_ah=728&u_aw=1366&u_cd=24&u_nplug=3&u_nmime=4&adx=328&ady=7679&biw=1357&bih=625&scr_x=0&scr_y=5189&eid=21068768&oid=3&psts=AGkb-H8E7bk0vx3P99d36B77P8-k2COqNgj_UeM7TOXUx9PezHDXGfJyiwPunAZfY8emfg%2CAGkb-H_gXdbxcjGJyQNbNWb8v4Ckcqwb5TjLB49V3zzxL536fIx4Sl6u9O_M0G6EkZNiZA%2CAGkb-H8Q3Gxk0sRTmYD1mh-zHU-TMDRYucGFT-2-p00SUGa_QiaXnQqaNnU6aVMvw3-gQw%2CAGkb-H9lTAdlk-USqgksITkFb99fv-GHVP0iB4RXNHvczUpSoHvBcH3OYnLrggqY3liFjQ&pvsid=1102331186171508&pem=635&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&rx=0&eae=0&fc=896&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1366%2C0%2C1366%2C728%2C1366%2C625&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7CoeEbr%7C&abl=CS&pfx=0&fu=8448&bc=31&jar=2021-01-02-14&ifi=4&uci=a!4&btvi=4&fsb=1&xpc=kKSVhQORyn&p=https%3A//www.mbaskool.com&dtd=25913

4. Ford Motor

Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker incorporated in Delaware in the year 1919.

Image: pixabay

The company started by acquiring the business of a Michigan company, also known as Ford Motor Company, which had been incorporated in 1903 to produce and sell automobiles designed and engineered by Henry Ford. With about 200,000 employees worldwide, the Company makes and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, electric vehicles etc. Ford Motors vehicle brands includes Ford and Lincoln. In 2017, the company sold approximately 6,500,000+ vehicles at wholesale throughout the world. The company has multiple consolidated and unconsolidated Joint ventures. The consolidated Joint ventures includes Ford Lio Ho Motor Company Ltd., Ford Sollers Netherlands B.V and Ford Vietnam Limited. The unconsolidated joint ventures AutoAlliance (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Changan Ford Automobile Corporation, Ltd., Ford Otomotiv Sanayi Anonim Sirket, JMC, etc.  Ford emerged comeback story from the Great Recession of 2008 is a model for inspiration. The company achieved this feat through restructuring and re-energizing its business. The company has had the achievement of being one of the companies having the highest sales in US. The company has also launched multiple models the previous year which includes F-150, EcoSport, Focus Electric, all-new Fiesta and all-new Expedition, and an all-new Lincoln Navigator and hence always been of the top car brands globally since its inception.

Revenue (Bn $): 149

3. Daimler

Daimler AG is one of the world’s biggest producer and supplier of premium cars and commercial vehicles all around the world.

Image: pixabay

The company has strong presence through Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles, Daimler Trucks, Vans, Buses and Financial Services the company has its global presence in multiple domains. The company, Mercedes-Benz is also a specialist in all-terrain four wheel drive brands. In the year 2017, the company sales risen to 3.3 million altogether with Mercedes Benz accounting for 2.4 million of them which is more than ever before. The company recorded a revenue of 163.4 billion euros, again showing a jump of 7 percent as compared to the previous year. China has been one of the core reason for this remarkable performance by the group which saw a 28 percent rise in the sale of Mercedes-Benz. The company also performed exceedingly well in electric cars segment as 136,000 electric smart models were sold worldwide. Mercedes-Benz Cars also sets an unprecedented series of record of increasing its unit sales every month for more than four years – without a break making it 3rd in the top car brands list. In April 2017, unit sales grew compared with the prior-year month for the 50th month in succession. As a measure for future, Daimler is cooperating with Bosch to advance the development of highly automated driving and driverless cars.

Revenue (Bn $): 189

2. Volkswagen

Volkswagen Group is the second largest manufacturer of the world with its headquarter in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany.

Image: company website

The group consists of two divisions: the automotive divisions and the financial services divisions. The automotive divisions further comprise of the passenger cars, the commercial vehicles and the Power engineering business areas. The vision of The Volkswagen passenger cars is “Moving people and driving them forward”. The Group has a reputation of owning big car names like Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Audi, SEAT, Skoda, etc. In the year 2017, the company achieved a new record by delivering 1.07 crores vehicles worldwide. With its employee strength of around 6,42,300 the group is one of the largest employers in private sector and one of the top car brands across the globe. In the previous fiscal year, the sales revenue of the firm stood at 230.7 billion euro which is an increase by 6.2% year-on-year. The sales of Volkswagen passenger cars in 2017 totaled 3.6 million vehicles as compared to 4.3 million of the previous year. The decline was mainly because of the reclassification of the companies in the group. However, during the same period the company produced 6.3 million vehicles which was 4 % more than the previous year. In August,2017 the company rolled out its 150 millionth vehicle from assembly line at Volkswagen’s main plant in Wolfsburg. The company has launched its “TOGETHER – Strategy 2025” future program in order to transform its automotive core business and will among other things be launching a further 30-plus fully electric cars by 2025.

Revenue (Bn $): 275

1. Toyota Motors

Toyota Motor Corporation is the largest automaker of the world. It is a Japanese multinational firm having a global presence.

Image: pixabay

With its headquarter in Aichi, Japan, the company has grown to become the world’s fifth largest firm in terms of revenue. The company operates through more than 50 overseas manufacturing plants spread over 30 countries and regions of the world. This covers all the broad regions of the world including North America, Latin America, Africa, Asia-Oceania and Europe.  The company has reached its 75 years since inception very recently. To celebrate its 75th anniversary, the company has compiled 75 Years of Toyota. In the financial year 2017-18, the company gained a total revenue of 6.4% from the previous year. The company’s total sales stood at approx. 9 million vehicles worldwide generating a revenue of 29,000+ billion yen. Toyota Motors has a commitment towards innovations which help them towards a high performance in Motor-Sports. Toyota also takes initiatives to involve the customers towards the future they dream of. Toyota shows commitment to safety by Introducing the “Integrated Safety Management Concept”. Through this the company supports the driver in each stage of driving (Parking, Active Safety, Pre-Collision Safety, Passive Safety and Rescue) by integrating each system.

Revenue (Bn $): 280

Ranking Methodology

1. The leading car companies in the world are considered.

2. Parameters like revenues were taken for the above car brands.

3. A final score is calculated and the rankings are evaluated.

This article has been researched & authored by the Content & Research Team. It has been reviewed & published by the MBA Skool Team. The content on MBA Skool has been created for educational & academic purpose only.

Browse similar company lists across 50 sectors. The top brand lists category covers rankings of companies based on various parameters.

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