What US car companies are owned by China?
Karma Automotive is the only U.S.-based car company currently owned by a Chinese parent.
To understand the question, it's important to distinguish between outright ownership and broader forms of influence. While Chinese firms have invested in or partnered with several U.S. automotive ventures, full ownership of a U.S. car brand by a Chinese company is rare. This article outlines the one clear example and puts it in context with the wider landscape of Chinese involvement in the U.S. auto sector.
The sole example in the United States
Before listing the details, note that what follows highlights the primary and publicly acknowledged case of a U.S. carmaker under Chinese ownership. It stands out because it represents a direct, controlling relationship between a Chinese parent and a U.S. automotive company.
Background: Fisker, Wanxiang and Karma
In 2014, Wanxiang Group, a major Chinese auto parts and vehicle group, acquired the assets of Fisker Automotive, a U.S.-based electric vehicle company. Wanxiang subsequently restructured the business and relaunched it as Karma Automotive, making Karma the American company most closely identified with Chinese ownership. Karma Automotive operates in California and has produced models such as the Karma Revero and Revero GT.
Before the list below, one caveat: the case commonly cited as the sole example is Karma Automotive, which traces its origins to Wanxiang’s acquisition of Fisker’s assets and the creation of Karma. Fisker Inc., the later U.S. EV startup founded in 2016, remains an independent company and is not Chinese-owned.
In summary, Karma Automotive represents the only clearly Chinese-owned U.S. car manufacturer as of 2025; other Chinese involvement in the U.S. auto sector tends to be through investments or partnerships rather than full ownership.
Broader landscape: Chinese investment versus ownership
Beyond Karma, Chinese entities have engaged with the U.S. automotive ecosystem in several non-ownership forms, including minority investments, joint ventures, and supplier relationships. These arrangements reflect a broader pattern of collaboration and cross-border investment, but they do not establish Chinese ownership of additional U.S. car brands.
Summary
The current record shows Karma Automotive as the sole U.S.-based car company under Chinese ownership. While Chinese investment has touched various U.S. auto ventures, the ownership model remains largely non-Chinese for other major American brands. For readers seeking the bottom line: Karma stands as the only clearly Chinese-owned U.S. carmaker to date, with other interactions in the sector involving investment, partnerships, or supply-chain ties rather than full ownership.
What car brands are owned by China?
Other Chinese car manufacturers, both from public and private sectors, like Geely, BAIC, BYD, Chery, GAC, Great Wall, JAC and Seres, emerged as the major players with the expansion of the Chinese automotive industry.
What U.S. car brands are made in China?
Several American-branded cars, including the Lincoln Nautilus and Buick Envision, are manufactured in China for both the Chinese and US markets. Additionally, some cars from brands with American ownership, such as the Volvo S90 and Polestar 2, are also built in China.
- Lincoln Nautilus: The second-generation Nautilus is produced at a joint Ford-Changan Automobile factory in Hangzhou, China.
- Buick Envision: This compact SUV is manufactured in China by a General Motors joint venture (SAIC-GM) and sold in both the Chinese and North American markets.
- Volvo S90: Volvo's flagship luxury sedan for the U.S. market is built at its Daqing factory in China.
- Polestar 1 and 2: Polestar, a subsidiary of Volvo, manufactures its vehicles, including the Polestar 2 electric vehicle, in Chengdu, China.
- Chevrolet Equinox: Some models of the Chevrolet Equinox are assembled in China, alongside plants in Mexico.
- Volvo EX30: Volvo's new EX30 is also manufactured in China for the US market.
How much of Ford does China own?
Changan Ford
| Company type | Joint venture |
|---|---|
| Key people | He Xiaoqing (President and CEO) Yang Dayong (Executive Vice President) |
| Products | Automobiles |
| Owner | Changan Automobile (50%) Ford Motor Company (50%) |
| Number of employees | 10,000+ |
Is Subaru owned by China?
Subaru (スバル; /ˈsuːbəruː/ or /sʊˈbɑːruː/; Japanese pronunciation: [sɯꜜbaɾɯ]) is the automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate Subaru Corporation (formerly known as Fuji Heavy Industries), the twenty-first largest automaker by production worldwide in 2017.
