China Surpasses Germany in Auto Production with 30 Million Vehicles in 2024

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In a significant development within the global automotive industry, China has achieved a historic milestone by producing over 30 million vehicles in 2024. This marks the first time any country has surpassed the 30-million production mark in a single year, according to a report by the Bochum CAR Institute led by Professor Ferdinand Dudenhöffer.

The surge in China’s vehicle production underscores the growing dominance of Chinese automakers, particularly BYD, which alone manufactured approximately 4.27 million vehicles during the same period. In stark contrast, Germany's automotive sector remains stagnant, with expectations of only 4.4 million vehicles produced in 2024, barely a 0.1 million increase from the previous year. The country has yet to recover its peak production level of 6.1 million vehicles achieved in 2016.

The growing production capacity in China highlights not only its industrial capabilities but also its competitive edge in cost-efficiency. Cars manufactured in China are offered at significantly lower prices compared to German and other European models, with Chinese brands focusing heavily on electric and hybrid vehicles. As a result, established German companies such as Volkswagen and Ford are facing workforce reductions amid these shifts in the automotive market.

With these trends, Professor Dudenhöffer emphasized, “China is the world’s number one car manufacturing country,” indicating a pivotal change in the automotive landscape as it continues to develop and export vehicles to global markets.

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