The International Council on Clean Transportation’s (ICCT) third Global Automaker Rating highlights a major shift in the global auto industry, with Chinese carmakers taking a strong lead in the race for zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs).
In a significant shift in global rankings, BYD overtook Tesla in battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales for the first time in 2024. With a 25% increase in BEV sales and a 47% rise in combined BEV and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) sales over 2023, BYD now shares the “Leaders” category with Tesla. The report credits broader industry improvements in core BEV technology performance, including energy efficiency, charging speeds, and real-world range—signals of a maturing and highly competitive EV market. GM and Honda were among the notable legacy players making up ground by introducing high-performance electric models that strengthen their previously limited EV portfolios.
Crucially, India’s Tata Motors has emerged as a noteworthy mover. Once classified in the “laggard” category, the company has been elevated to “transitioner” status in ICCT’s latest rankings, reflecting progress in both new EV launches and battery recycling initiatives. Tata’s upward movement reflects the broader trend of non-traditional EV players investing in circularity and electrification to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving market.
The ICCT’s 2024 analysis introduces an important new metric: green steel usage—a measure of sustainability within manufacturing supply chains. European OEMs such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volkswagen ranked high on this front, underlining the growing importance of upstream emissions management as investors and regulators increasingly scrutinise automotive carbon footprints beyond tailpipe emissions.
Yet the most striking insight from the report is the scale and speed of China’s dominance. Chinese companies occupied the top five spots for ZEV class coverage and five of the top six for EV sales share. Geely and SAIC, for instance, have already achieved EV sales shares of 50%, meeting their 2025 goals a full year in advance. This performance gap underscores the urgency for legacy automakers in Europe, the US, and other regions to accelerate their transition efforts—not only to meet policy mandates but to avoid losing competitiveness in a fast-charging market.
As the global automotive sector transitions from ambition to action, the ICCT report reinforces that leadership in the EV space is no longer about future intent—it’s about present execution. Automakers failing to scale their ZEV strategies and supply chains risk falling behind in a market that is evolving faster than many anticipated.
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