what each car manufacturer earns (or loses) for each car sold
The year 2024 has been a complicated period for the automotive industry, marked by falling sales and forced adjustments in production. In this context, analyzing the profits and losses of each manufacturer per vehicle sold becomes a crucial indicator to understand the financial health of the sector. Through revealing data, we can observe how some brands like Ferrari and Porsche continue to stand out, while others, especially 100% electric brands, face significant challenges. Let’s explore what each manufacturer earns (or loses) for each car sold and the surprising dynamics that arise in this competitive market.
The year 2024 was a challenge for the automotive industry, with sales declining, personnel cuts, and factory closures. As the first quarter of 2025 comes to a close, definitive balances begin to be disclosed. In this article, we will analyze the profit margins of the main automobile manufacturers and the surprises this complicated year has brought.
Ferrari: The unmatched luxury brand
Without a doubt, Ferrari continues to reign in the automotive realm. With a profit margin that increased from 16% in 2023 to 28.15% in 2024, the Italian brand achieves an impressive income of 136,671 euros for each vehicle sold. This success highlights its undeniable dominance in the luxury car market.
Porsche: A solid team despite challenges
Porsche ranks second with a margin of 14.06%. Although the brand faced a decline in its results, it remains a robust revenue-generating machine, accumulating 18,142 euros for each car sold. Compared to its figures from 2023, where the profit was 22,747 euros per car, there is a noticeable slowdown that doesn’t diminish its status as a key competitor in the industry.
More affordable brands and their margins
Unlike luxury giants, generalist manufacturers often have tighter margins due to intense competition in the sector. However, Suzuki has surprised by reaching a margin of 10.30%, placing it in third position in our analysis. On the other hand, Renault finds itself far behind with a 4.58% margin, while Stellantis and Nissan struggle at the bottom with margins of 2.35% and 1.22% respectively.
Challenges of electric brands
Within the electric car sector, the situation is even more complicated. Tesla, which continues to lead in this segment, presents a margin of 7.24%, equivalent to 3,801 euros per car, although this represents a decrease compared to the 4,448 euros of 2023. Meanwhile, other Chinese brands like Geely and Li Auto report lower margins, while some, like Rivian and Lucid, face significant losses per vehicle, highlighting losses of up to 283,468 euros per car in the case of Lucid.
The 10 most profitable brands in 2024
Here’s a summary of the ten most profitable brands in terms of profit per car sold:
- Ferrari: 28.15% – 136,671€
- Porsche: 14.06% – 18,142€
- Suzuki: 10.30% – 1,128€
- Toyota: 10.25% – 2,710€
- Subaru: 9.83% – 3,031€
- Hyundai Kia: 9.52% – 2,432€
- Mercedes-Benz: 9.34% – 5,692€
- BMW Group: 8.08% – 4,693€
- Isuzu: 7.25% – 2,610€
- Tesla: 7.24% – 3,801€
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Performance of Automobile Manufacturers per Vehicle Sold
The financial analysis of the automotive industry of 2024 reveals the surprising performance of each manufacturer per vehicle sold. Ferrari leads the ranking with an impressive margin of 28.15%, obtaining profits of 136,671 euros for each car. In second place, Porsche remains profitable, although with declining figures, achieving a margin of 14.06% and 18,142 euros per vehicle sold.
Other manufacturers like Suzuki and Toyota also present positive margins, although considerably lower, with 10.30% and 10.25% respectively. However, many generalist manufacturers, affected by price wars, present discouraging figures, like Nissan, with a loss of 1.22%.
As we enter an increasingly electrified world, the profitability of electric brands like Tesla, which maintains a margin of 7.24%, starkly contrasts with the significant losses of Lucid and Rivian, which exceed 280,000 euros per car.
