Legacy global automakers falter in ambition despite momentum in the EV transition

Legacy automakers across the US, Japan, and Europe face a widening gap with new market leaders as the ICCT's fourth annual Global Automaker Rating shows uneven progress in 2025. Global EV sales reached 25% of new-vehicle volumes, up from 20% in 2024, signaling deeper market adoption. Tesla and BYD remain the top all-electric makers, with BYD again surpassing Tesla in global BEV sales for the second consecutive year. The margin between them continues to shrink.

Chinese giants SAIC and Geely each posted 50% or higher EV shares, followed closely by ChangAn, reflecting a faster electrification curve than most Western brands. In contrast, many legacy automakers, including Stellantis, Honda, and GM, posted declines in 2025 due to downward revisions of their 2030 EV targets. Hyundai-Kia advanced, moving from 'laggard' to 'transitioner' in ICCT's categorization, while Stellantis entered the top five in the same metric.

The findings emphasize a growing split between frontrunners expanding EV portfolios and those hedging bets with plug-in hybrids or flexible platforms. US- and Japan-based producers still offer EVs in fewer than a third of analyzed segments. Chinese firms are outpacing targets and accelerating beyond schedules, while some Western manufacturers recalibrate strategies. The ICCT cautions that long-term electrification investments are shrinking for several legacy brands, narrowing the window to close the gap.