Toyota tops global auto brands as Tesla drops in 2025 rankings

Toyota Motor Corporation has retained its position as the world’s most valuable car brand in the Brand Finance Global 500 report for 2025. The annual study, published on 21 January 2025, evaluated the world’s top 500 brands across all sectors. Toyota ranked 18th overall, with a brand valuation of $64.7 billion.

The Japanese automaker leads the automotive sector, ahead of Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai. Mercedes secured 23rd place overall with a valuation of $53 billion, while Hyundai climbed to 29th, valued at $46.3 billion. Tesla, which once outpaced competitors to join the top ten in 2023, dropped to 36th this year, with a valuation of $43 billion. This marks a significant decline from 18th place in 2024.

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According to the report, Tesla’s challenges stem from its dependence on the Chinese EV market, competition from BYD, and controversies surrounding Elon Musk’s leadership. BYD has seen remarkable growth, increasing its brand value by $14 billion since 2020, climbing from $3.1 billion.

Other automakers in the top 500 include BMW at 37th, Porsche at 40th, Volkswagen at 61st, Honda at 70th, and Ford at 86th. Audi and Ferrari appear further down the list, ranking 127th and 158th, respectively.

The Brand Finance Global 500 report noted that the combined value of the world’s top brands reached $9.5 trillion in 2025, growing by 10% compared to the previous year. This growth outpaced global economic expansion, which stood at 3%.

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Apple remains the most valuable global brand, with a valuation of $574.5 billion, followed by Microsoft at $461 billion and Google at $413 billion. Amazon and Walmart round out the top five, with values of $356.4 billion and $137.2 billion, respectively.

The report highlights the increasing influence of Chinese brands, such as BYD and TikTok, which have demonstrated strong growth and are challenging established leaders. Brand Finance CEO David Haigh emphasised the growing competition from emerging markets, stating that Chinese brands are reshaping global brand dynamics.

Toyota’s consistent performance in the rankings underscores its stability and leadership in the automotive industry, even as the sector faces growing challenges and competition.