Automakers, also known as carmakers, automobile manufacturers, motor manufacturers, or the automobile industry are companies that design and manufacture automobiles.
In 2005, 67 million automobiles (cars and light trucks) were produced worldwide. In 2006 16 million new automobiles were sold in the USA, 15 million in Western Europe, 4 million in China and one million in India. In 2007 the markets in Canada, USA, Western Europe and Japan are stagnating, while those in South America (especially Brazil) and Asia grow.