China’s Auto Market: Key Players and Structure
The Chinese automobile market may seem confusing due to the huge number of brands, but detailed infographics help to understand its structure. However, studying this information may raise even more questions.
Who Owns Whom?
A chart compiled by analyst Felipe Munoz maps all automakers fully or partially owned by Chinese companies. The largest groups by sales volume in the country are Geely, BYD, Chery, and Changan. The latter two stand out particularly as they are state-owned.
Among the brands of the Chery group are Fulwin, Omoda, Jetour, Exeed, iCar, Luxeed, Jaecoo, Rely, and the Chery brand itself. Changan’s portfolio includes Avatr, Deepal, Nevo, Volga, and Kaicheng.
Geely owns or partially controls brands such as Zeekr, Proton, Farizon, LEVC, Galaxy, Volvo, Lotus, Lynk & Co, Polestar, Smart, Geome, Belgee, and Radar. Compared to them, BYD’s portfolio looks simpler: it includes its own brand, as well as Denza, YangWang, and Fang Cheng Bao.
These four groups account for 56 percent of all car sales in China. All of them receive subsidies from the local government, with companies located closest to the “sun” on the chart having the highest degree of state participation.
Wider Circle of Manufacturers
Beyond the “Big Four,” other important conglomerates are present in the market. SAIC owns the brands MG, LDV, Maxus, IM, and Roewe; JAC owns Maextro, JAC, Evo, and Nord; BAIC includes Arcfox, Foton, Tiger, and Stelato; Dongfeng controls MHero, Voyah, Lingxi, Nammi, and Venucia.
There are also startups that have so far managed to avoid absorption by large groups: Nio, Leapmotor, Xpeng, Aiways, Neta, Xiaomi, Li Auto, and Rox. Nio, in particular, has launched the Onvo and Firefly brands.
Brand Pyramid by Status
Munoz also published a second pyramid-shaped chart showing the market positions of 109 brands. At the top are ultra-premium brands such as Hongqi, YangWang, and Maextro. One level below are high-tech contenders, including Xiaomi, Nio, and Li Auto.
The premium and semi-premium levels are filled with brands like Stelato, Denza, Zeekr, and Xpeng, which target status-conscious buyers. The base of the pyramid consists of older, budget brands, little-known in the West, including Sinogold, Hima, Pocco, and others. These brands face the threat of oblivion as consumers increasingly favor modern, connected cars.
The Struggle for Survival
It is unlikely that all these brands will still exist in ten years. While the large groups will remain in the market, they may consolidate or close some of their sub-brands. This trend is already familiar in the West, where brands such as Pontiac, Oldsmobile, NSU, Autobianchi, Sunbeam, and hundreds of others have disappeared.
However, it is clear that Chinese automakers are not going anywhere and will continue to play an important role in the global automotive industry.
The dynamics of the Chinese auto market reflect profound structural changes related to technological development, state support, and global expansion. The consolidation of manufacturers and growing competition could lead to the emergence of new global players, as well as the disappearance of less adaptable brands. This process may affect not only the domestic market but also global trends, especially in the electric vehicle and innovative vehicle sectors.