China's Automotive Companies in Fortune Global 500: A Mixed Bag

On July 29, Fortune Chinese Network released the latest Fortune Global 500 list simultaneously worldwide. This year, including companies from Taiwan, there are 130 Chinese companies on the list, three fewer than last year. This marks the lowest number since 2019, positioning China second in terms of company count, just behind the United States. The number of companies from mainland China (including Hong Kong) is 124, a decrease of four from last year. The total revenue of the 130 Chinese companies on the list for 2024 is approximately $10.7 trillion, down about 3% compared to the 133 companies last year. The average sales revenue is about $8.2 billion, lower than the average revenue of $10.58 billion for American companies and slightly below the overall average of the 500 companies. The average profit for the listed companies from mainland China (including Hong Kong) is $4.2 billion, nearly half that of American companies and below the overall average profit of the 500 companies, which is $5.95 billion. In the automotive sector, a total of 10 Chinese automotive and parts companies made it to the 2025 Fortune Global 500 list. Chery's revenue increased significantly from $39.1 billion last year to $59.7 billion, with its ranking improving by 152 positions to 233. BYD also saw a substantial rise, moving up 52 places with a revenue of $108 billion, ranking 91st and entering the top 100 for the first time, showcasing its ongoing breakthroughs and strong competitiveness in the new energy vehicle sector. Geely's ranking rose by 30 spots, with revenue increasing from $70.4 billion to $79.9 billion, gradually expanding its influence in the global market. These companies are effectively driving China's automotive, especially electric vehicles, towards a global market. However, apart from BYD, Chery, and Geely, the rankings of the other seven companies, including FAW Group, Dongfeng Group, SAIC Group, GAC Group, BAIC Group, and CATL, have all declined compared to last year. From a global perspective, there are 35 automotive and parts companies on the list. Contributor Wang Zhile believes that in recent years, China's automotive manufacturing has led the world in new energy vehicle technology breakthroughs, production, and sales. However, there remains significant room for improvement in operational efficiency compared to other major automotive producing countries, as the average sales revenue for globally listed automotive and parts companies is 4.3%, nearly double that of Chinese companies.