(Yicai) July 29 -- Chinese battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology reported a significantly better profit margin compared with the 10 domestic automotive and component companies to make the 2026 Fortune Global 500 list.

CATL's profit margin stood at 17 percent, compared with an average of 1.5 percent for the eight Chinese carmakers on the list released yesterday. Investment holding firm Jardine Strategic Holdings, which has some auto trading operations, had a profit margin of 3.2 percent, while the global industry average was 1.7 percent.

Guangzhou Automobile Group and Geely Automobile Holdings reported negative profit margins, while that of BAIC Group stood at 0 percent. Dongfeng Motor, SAIC Motor, and FAW Group all posted profit margins of below 2 percent, with BYD at 4.1 percent and Chery Automobile at 6.3 percent ranking ahead.

In addition, Shenzhen-based BYD surpassed Tesla to become the world's best-selling electric vehicle manufacturer, while also being the only Chinese carmaker within the top 100 on the list after ranking 91st. Nine other auto companies ranked in the top 100, coming from Japan, Europe, and the United States, while a total of 35 such firms appeared on the list.

All of the world's top 10 auto companies, except BMW Group and Hyundai Motor, logged a drop in profit margin.

Despite a 3.4 percent increase in revenue, the "biggest automaker" Volkswagen Group saw its net profit plunge 33 percent. Toyota Motor reported an 18 percent drop in profit despite revenue rising 6.7 percent. In addition, General Motors and Mercedes-Benz Group saw their profits tumble 55 percent and 48 percent, and incomes fall 1.3 percent and 5.3 percent, respectively.

Editor: Martin Kadiev