China dominated global vehicle production in 2024; South Africa and Morocco emerged as Africa’s strongest performers, producing over 1M combined

  • China built 31.3M vehicles in 2024, more than the U.S. and Japan combined, and over one-third of global output.
  • The U.S. and Japan are still major players, but each produced less than half of China’s volume.
  • India, rising with 6.0M vehicles, is cementing its place as a global automotive powerhouse.
  • Europe’s strength: Germany leads with 4.1M units, supported by Spain, France, and the Czech Republic.
  • Brazil, Thailand, and Turkey demonstrate strong regional growth.

Africa’s contribution:

  • South Africa (21st, 0.59M units) is the continent’s top producer.
  • Morocco (23rd, 0.56M units) follows closely. Combined, they reflect Africa’s small but developing presence in the global auto industry.

Global vehicle production hit 92.5 million units in 2024, with China alone producing 31.28 million. This means that one out of every three vehicles worldwide rolled out of Chinese factories, underscoring the country’s unmatched dominance.

The United States (10.6M) and Japan (8.2M) trailed far behind, while India (6.0M) and Mexico (4.2M) solidified their positions as key automotive hubs.

In Europe, Germany (4.1M) maintained its leadership, supported by strong outputs from Spain (2.38M), the Czech Republic (1.46M), and France (1.36M) in cars and LCVs.

Among emerging markets, Brazil (2.55M), Thailand (1.47M), and Turkey (1.37M) stood out.

On the African continent, South Africa (0.59M, rank 21) and Morocco (0.56M, rank 23) were the only producers to make the global ranking. Their combined output was less than 2% of China’s total, reflecting Africa’s modest but growing role in global auto manufacturing.

Source:

Source: International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers

Period:

2024
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