Leading automakers Asia 2023, by sales

In 2023, Toyota Motor was the largest automobile manufacturer in Asia, with sales of over 270 billion U.S. dollars. Five of the ten leading car manufacturers in Asia were from Japan, followed by two South Korean and Chinese car manufacturers each, and one from India.

Automotive industry in the APAC region

Asian automakers foster sustainability, innovation, and technological integration in automobile manufacturing. With local auto brands like Geely, BYD, and NIO leading the electric vehicles adoption and autonomous driving technologies, China remains the leading car manufacturer in the world. South Korea's Hyundai and Kia consolidate their reputation for superiority in design and quality. Meanwhile, Nissan, Honda, and Toyota — three titans of the Japanese automotive industry — innovate by leveraging their expertise in hybrid technology. Recently, the Asia-Pacific region has seen an increase in passenger car sales, which can be attributed to the region's growing middle-class and rising demand for personal mobility. China is the largest market in APAC, with over 23 million passenger automobiles sold there in 2022. 

Consumer preferences for vehicles

A survey conducted in 2022 revealed a significant consumer preference for technologies that alleviate traffic congestion and offer alternative routes, with more than half of the respondents in Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia expressing very or somewhat keen interest in this functionality. Moreover, traditional preferences for reliability and durability continued to influence purchasing decisions across the region. That same year, 71 percent of the respondents in Southeast Asia stated that product quality was the key factor in choosing the brand of their next vehicle. These aspects are expected to significantly shape the future adoption of automobile technology in the Asia-Pacific region as consumer preferences continue to progress.