Hyundai Motor Group takes third, BYD breaks into global top five in Q3 sales

Global automotive rankings have been reshuffled for the first time in seven years as Chinese automakers expand their presence overseas. Hyundai Motor Group rose to third place, while China's BYD entered the top five for the first time.

Toyota Group ranked first with 2.74 million vehicles sold in the third quarter, followed by Volkswagen Group with 1.89 million and Hyundai Motor Group with 1.76 million. BYD sold 1.32 million vehicles, overtaking the Renault-Nissan Alliance, which fell out of the top five.

Weakness in the Chinese market weighed on sales at established automakers. Volkswagen Group's deliveries in China fell 38.5 percent on-year to 406,000 vehicles in the third quarter, compared with a decline of about 4 percent in regions outside China. Toyota also recorded its eighth consecutive monthly sales decline in China, with September sales falling 19.7 percent.

Within Hyundai Motor Group, Kia posted a 6.9 percent increase to 829,000 units, while Hyundai Motor recorded a 10.1 percent decline to 931,000. Hyundai Motor was affected by domestic production disruptions caused by labor strikes, as well as weaker sales in Europe and China. The group's modest decline narrowed its sales gap with second-ranked Volkswagen Group to approximately 125,000 vehicles.

BYD, meanwhile, offset weaker domestic demand with overseas expansion. Its third-quarter volume grew 18.7 percent on-year, while exports surged 137 percent to 551,000 units, accounting for approximately 42 percent of the total. The company's international push helped counter intensifying competition in its home market.

The Renault-Nissan Alliance's third-quarter sales fell 11.1 percent from a year earlier. Nissan was particularly weak in China, where sales plunged 61.6 percent. General Motors sold 1.03 million vehicles, up 5.2 percent, as strong pickup truck and large SUV sales supported its performance despite a decline in US electric vehicle sales.

While established automakers face mounting pressure from local competitors in China, Chinese brands are expanding their presence in overseas markets. Intensifying domestic competition and the international expansion of Chinese automakers are reshaping the global automotive industry.