The 2026 Fortune Global 500 list has been released. The top three companies are Amazon, Walmart and State Grid Corporation of China. A total of 122 Chinese enterprises made the cut, ranking second worldwide, only behind the United States with 141 firms.
Among these 122 listed Chinese companies, 10 automotive-related enterprises secured positions on the roster. Below is a detailed breakdown of the rankings of these 10 automotive-related players, accompanied by brief analysis.
As suggested, BYD claims the No.1 spot among Chinese automotive firms, ranking 91st overall on the list. For two consecutive years, BYD has remained inside the top 100 of the Fortune Global 500 and holds the leading position among Chinese automakers. Its outstanding performance is mainly driven by remarkable sales results. In 2025, BYD retained its crown as the world’s top-selling new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer and overtook Tesla to become the global leader in pure electric vehicle sales. In overseas markets, BYD set a new record with annual overseas sales exceeding one million units.
SAIC Motor takes the No.2 position among Chinese automotive enterprises, ranked 125th overall. It climbed 13 places year-on-year, second only to BYD among domestic automakers. In terms of overall sales, SAIC Motor’s cumulative deliveries surpassed 2 million units in the first half of this year, making it the sole Chinese automaker to hit this milestone. It should be noted that despite its strong sales volume, SAIC’s core sales are driven by joint venture brands including Volkswagen and General Motors. Consequently, its profit margin is considerably lower than that of manufacturers such as BYD, Geely and Chery.
Zhejiang Geely Holding Group ranks third at 138th globally, rising 17 positions compared with the 2025 ranking, marking the biggest leap among privately-owned automakers. Geely is one of the few domestic carmakers maintaining robust performance in both fuel vehicles and new energy vehicles. Its China Star series fuel vehicles compete head-to-head with rival joint-venture fuel models and outperform most competitors in sales. Geely Galaxy, its new energy marque, boasts an impressive track record as the fastest-growing domestic NEV brand to hit one million cumulative sales. Geely Xingyuan, under its portfolio, is the only pure electric model that has outsold the Tesla Model Y in the segment.
FAW Group, CATL, GAC Group, Dongfeng Motor Group, Chery Automobile, BAIC Group and Jardine Matheson Holdings occupy the 4th to 10th spots in sequence. CATL registers the strongest growth, jumping 43 places versus last year. Supported by its dominant standing in the power battery sector, it is the most profitable automotive-related enterprise on the list.
Chery Automobile deserves special attention. Ranked 383rd globally, it is the **only newly listed mainland Chinese enterprise** this year, emerging as a dark horse in the 2026 Fortune Global 500. Chery has retained the title of China’s top vehicle exporter for successive years. Overseas sales account for 70% of its total deliveries, with overseas revenue making up over half of its total income. Among the 10 automotive-related companies mentioned above, Chery posts the second-highest profit margin, only after CATL, making it the most profitable automaker.
