‘Ever wondered how many billions car firms make?’

With the world’s top 20 car makers raking in thousands of billions every year, Mike Rutherford analyses the figures

OPINION Money

Ever wondered how many billions of dollars the world’s leading motor manufacturers rake in? Think around $2,000 billion per annum – that’s what 20 of the top car firms on the planet collectively enjoyed in income last year.

It’s the likes of you and me buying our vehicles, parts and related products that are annually handing over this colossal sort of money to what can loosely be described as the largest vehicle manufacturers.

Opinion: car owners should take back control of our roads

Mazda sits rock bottom of my league table with revenues that amounted to ‘only’ $31 billion (or, if you prefer, $31,000 million) in 2017. Given that Suzuki is one of the world’s top 12 car makers by size, its like-for-like figure of $34bn seems low, but is explained by the fact that its entire product range is at the bottom end of the retail price scale.

Geely of China – which includes Volvo and Lotus – comes next on $41bn. Then it’s JLR’s parent, Tata Motors ($46bn), and Kia of South Korea ($47bn). Another Chinese giant, Guangzhou Automobile, may surprise some by making it into the top 15 with a cool $50bn in annual income. Renault ($66bn), Beijing Automotive ($70bn), Peugeot Group ($74bn) and Kia’s big sister, Hyundai Motor ($93bn), are all trying – but failing – to make it into the top 10.

China’s Dongfeng ($93bn) succeeds where they fail, as does Nissan ($108bn) and BMW ($111bn). MG’s owner SAIC with a figure of $129bn is fighting for a top five slot and the same is true of Honda ($139bn).

Ford’s annual revenue is a tad under $157bn, while GM creeps just above $157bn and therefore beats its Detroit rival by the narrowest of margins. Daimler (Mercedes and Smart) makes it on to the podium after weighing in with $185bn, while the VW Group is the runner-up on $260bn – some of which will be spent on legal and other bills relating to its self-inflicted diesel debacle, of course. It’s Toyota that has the highest annual income in the automotive world: $265bn in 2017.

Put another way, five days a week, 52 weeks a year, each of these top two automotive giants enjoys revenues of $1,000 million per day, the overwhelming majority of which comes from motoring consumers.

True, the pair have materials to buy, factories to run, huge wage bills, plus countless other massive and unavoidable expenses that need to be paid.

Me? I can’t decide whether a vehicle maker raking in $1bn every weekday is merely fit and healthy, too greedy or taking the you-know-what by charging way too much for its products. Can you?

Now read Mike’s advice on demanding a discount from your local dealership

Chief columnist

Mike was one of the founding fathers of Auto Express in 1988. He's been motoring editor on four tabloid newspapers - London Evening News, The Sun, News of the World & Daily Mirror. He was also a weekly columnist on the Daily Telegraph, The Independent and The Sunday Times. 

Most Popular

Deal of the Day: Spacious Skoda Superb is a peerless estate for £223 a month
Skoda Superb Estate - front tracking
News

Deal of the Day: Spacious Skoda Superb is a peerless estate for £223 a month

The Superb is one of our favourite estates and our Deal of the Day for Monday 4 December
4 Dec 2023
‘Forget leasing a car, a cut-price van should be your next everyday vehicle’
Opinion - Fiat Scudo
Opinion

‘Forget leasing a car, a cut-price van should be your next everyday vehicle’

With some huge savings to be had, Mike Rutherford thinks a van could be the perfect vehicle
3 Dec 2023
New Jaguar XF Sportbrake 2024 review: big estate with value boost
Jaguar XF Sportbrake - front tracking
Road tests

New Jaguar XF Sportbrake 2024 review: big estate with value boost

Jaguar's XF Sportbrake may be 8 years old but it just got a whole lot cheaper!
7 Dec 2023