Top 5 countries now making the cars we love

It’s 2026, and this year will mark a decade since Ford ended manufacturing in Australia, with Holden and Toyota also ending local production a year later. So, who’s making the cars we love now? And by who, we mean which countries?

Here are the top five countries that made our favourite cars in 2025.

Read more about

• The next big thing for Toyota! 2026 Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid likely won’t be alone for long as demand for PHEV tech surges in Chinese challengers BYD, Chery and GWM
• The most exciting new cars coming in 2026
• Top 5 Japanese cars we need in 2026

5. GERMANY: 54,905

Doing the heavy lifting are models such as the Volkswagen Tiguan and Golf, along with the Mercedes-Benz GLC and GLA SUVs which are made in Germany for Australia.

It’s unlikely Aussies will stop treating themselves to cars from Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Volkswagen anytime soon, if ever. But as you will see the gap between prestige-niche (prest-niche?) and mainstream models could grow increasingly larger as Chinese offerings head further upmarket while keeping prices low.

4. KOREA: 149,966

Hyundai and Kia are the big two Korean carmakers, with KGM (formerly SsangYong) struggling but still hanging on. Between the three they made 149,966 of the cars bought by Aussies in 2025. That’s down from 157,760 in 2024.

Australians love models such as the Hyundai Kona and Santa Fe and Kia Sportage which are all made in Korea for our market. 

The drop in the number of Korean-made cars we bought could be attributed to the biggest mover in the top five manufacturers. Enter China.

3. CHINA: 221,699

Number three today, number two tomorrow? Possibly sooner. The popularity of Chinese-made cars accelerated dramatically from 2024 to 2025, the overall number going from 176,159 to 221,699. Yes, an increase of 45,540 cars (+26 per cent), almost the total amount of German-made cars sold in 2025. Impressive.

Chinese-made models such as the BYD Shark 6 ute, GWM Haval Jolion and MG ZS SUV have been snapped up by Aussies in their tens of thousands.

As with any race, the battle between third and second place is often more riveting than what’s going on in first and China is breathing down the neck of Thailand right now.

2. THAILAND: 249,958

It might surprise you (or not at all) to know that Thailand came in second place for 2025. But only just, with 249,958 cars made for Aussies, which is down from 272,139 in 2024.

What cars does Thailand make? Pretty much every ute on sale in Australia and utes are hugely popular here.

Yep, from the Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max and Mazda BT-50 to the Mitsubishi Triton, Nissan Navara and Toyota HiLux. Thailand is a ute powerhouse.

1. JAPAN: 358,981

Japan is our winner for 2025 as the country which makes more cars that we buy than any other nation. 

Japan made 358,981 of the cars Aussies bought and that’s up from 241,296 in 2024. 

Carrying the heavy end of this big number is Toyota with firm Aussie favourites such as the RAV4, Corolla, Camry, Corolla Cross, Land Cruiser and Prado.

By now you know the Toyota HiLux is made in Thailand, but did you know the Kluger is built in the United States for Australia? You do now.