Asian carmakers gain US share as China eyes entry

Major US automakers have witnessed their market share in the domestic market diminish as Asian competitors gain prominence. Experts predict the trend could intensify if Chinese firms are permitted entry into the US. Charlie Chesbrough, a senior economist at Cox Automotive, noted that Asian brands are projected to hold more than half of US new vehicle sales in the upcoming third quarter, a record-high share.

The Big Three, General Motors, Ford, and FCA/Stellantis, will see their combined share drop to just over 36 percent, the lowest on record. FCA/Stellantis, which manufactures Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge, contributes to this decline.

Chesbrough highlighted that Asian companies possess significant advantages over their US counterparts, particularly in hybrid vehicles, which are becoming increasingly popular due to volatile gasoline prices caused by Middle Eastern conflicts. While General Motors remains the overall sales leader, Toyota is rapidly closing the gap. GM's market share dropped from 17.4 percent in 2025 to 16.7 percent in the first nine months of this year, while Toyota's rose from 15.2 percent to 15.6 percent.

Ford and Hyundai-Kia follow, with Ford's share dropping and Hyundai-Kia's rising. In the third quarter, Ford sales fell by 5.5 percent to 670,974 units, while Toyota sales rose by 0.6 percent to 633,223. FCA US, ranked sixth, lags behind Japan's Honda. Michael Orange, head of US retail sales for FCA US, acknowledged the highly competitive industry backdrop.

In September, Trump expressed a willingness to allow Chinese cars in the US, provided their manufacturers establish plants and hire American workers. His stance came before a visit from Chinese President Xi Jinping, his first to the US in over a decade. Lobbyists representing the automakers, parts manufacturers, and dealers promptly urged Trump to maintain a firm barrier to Chinese automakers selling, importing, or manufacturing vehicles within the US.