Sales of new cars decreased by 160 thousand in August compared to last year
In the first eight months of the year, the growth reached 12.7% yoy
Norway performed relatively the best (up 52.1% yoy) while sales in Portugal showed the weakest change compared to the last year (down 35.8% yoy)
Sales of new passenger cars reached 725 thousand in August 2021 in the enlarged Europe (EU plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland), according to ACEA. This is 18.1%, or 160 thousand less than in the previous year. In the first eight months of 2021, some 8,191 thousand cars were sold in Europe, up 12.7% yoy.
During the month of August, car registrations across the European Union decreased by 19.1% to reach 622,993 units. For the second month in a row, the largest car markets posted double-digit declines.
Historically, between 1990 and 2021, sales of passenger cars in Europe reached a high of 1,937 thousand in March 2017 and a low of 292 thousand in April 2020.
In August, most vehicles (193 thousand) were sold in Germany (down 23.0% yoy), followed by France (88.1 thousand, down 15.0%), the United Kingdom with 68.0 thousand cars (down 22.0%), 64.7 thousand new vehicles were registered in Italy (down 27.2%) and 47.6 thousand in Spain (down 28.9%). The five largest countries accounted for 57.1% of total new vehicles registered in August 2021.
In absolute terms, the best performance in sales of new cars has been seen in Norway (up 5.63 thousand cars) and Romania (up 4.97 thousand cars). At the other end of the scale, Germany and Italy showed the weakest change in registration of new cars in August when compared to last year (down 57.7 thousand and down 24.1 thousand cars, respectively).
In relative terms, sales in Norway (+52.1%) and Romania (+44.6%) performed the best compared to a year ago, whereas registration in Portugal and Lithuania the worst (-35.8% and -30.2% yoy), in August 2021, according to ACEA:
In the first eight months of the year, some 8,191 thousand cars were sold in Europe, up 12.7% yoy. The table below shows details of the sales for each of the European country:
| Country | August 2021 | August 2020 | YOY Change % | 1-8/2021 | 1-8/2020 | YOY Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 17.7 | 20.9 | -15.2 | 172 | 158 | 8.54 |
| Belgium | 27.0 | 36.4 | -25.7 | 287 | 298 | -3.53 |
| Bulgaria | 1.91 | 1.92 | -0.678 | 17.6 | 15.2 | 15.6 |
| Croatia | 2.82 | 2.60 | 8.23 | 34.4 | 25.2 | 36.7 |
| Cyprus | 0.587 | 0.729 | -19.5 | 7.52 | 6.70 | 12.3 |
| Czech Republic | 16.4 | 16.6 | -0.975 | 148 | 131 | 12.4 |
| Denmark | 15.8 | 17.6 | -10.0 | 126 | 125 | 0.625 |
| Estonia | 1.51 | 1.46 | 3.01 | 16.8 | 12.6 | 33.0 |
| Finland | 7.90 | 8.49 | -6.85 | 72.1 | 65.0 | 11.0 |
| France | 88.1 | 104 | -15.0 | 1,127 | 998 | 12.8 |
| Germany | 193 | 251 | -23.0 | 1,821 | 1,777 | 2.48 |
| Greece | 6.20 | 6.85 | -9.56 | 75.1 | 52.9 | 41.9 |
| Hungary | 9.64 | 10.9 | -11.7 | 85.0 | 78.6 | 8.07 |
| Iceland | 0.801 | 0.581 | 37.9 | 8.68 | 6.25 | 38.7 |
| Ireland | 6.01 | 4.86 | 23.6 | 96.5 | 80.4 | 20.0 |
| Italy | 64.7 | 88.8 | -27.2 | 1,059 | 809 | 31.0 |
| Latvia | 1.27 | 1.11 | 14.3 | 10.5 | 9.18 | 14.5 |
| Lithuania | 2.37 | 3.40 | -30.2 | 24.3 | 23.6 | 2.94 |
| Luxembourg | 2.79 | 3.67 | -23.9 | 32.1 | 30.0 | 6.97 |
| Netherlands | 21.9 | 26.5 | -17.3 | 213 | 220 | -3.40 |
| Norway | 16.4 | 10.8 | 52.1 | 111 | 79.8 | 38.9 |
| Poland | 33.2 | 34.7 | -4.29 | 315 | 257 | 22.7 |
| Portugal | 7.97 | 12.4 | -35.8 | 102 | 92.5 | 10.0 |
| Romania | 16.1 | 11.2 | 44.6 | 79.3 | 73.7 | 7.59 |
| Slovakia | 6.78 | 6.98 | -2.89 | 52.9 | 49.3 | 7.44 |
| Slovenia | 3.53 | 4.36 | -19.0 | 39.0 | 38.6 | 0.943 |
| Spain | 47.6 | 66.9 | -28.9 | 588 | 525 | 12.1 |
| Sweden | 19.8 | 25.5 | -22.4 | 210 | 174 | 20.6 |
| Switzerland | 16.5 | 16.3 | 1.21 | 160 | 142 | 12.9 |
| United Kingdom | 68.0 | 87.2 | -22.0 | 1,101 | 916 | 20.3 |
| EU + EFTA | 725 | 884 | -18.1 | 8,191 | 7,269 | 12.7 |
Volkswagen Group sold the most cars in August 2021 in Europe, some 192 thousand vehicles representing 26.5% of the European market. Sales of PSA Group amounted to 85.1 thousand vehicles (or 11.7% of the market) while Hyundai Group and Renault Group held 10.1% and 9.50% of the European market in August. Overall, the five largest manufacturers sold 65.1% of all new cars in August:
Volkswagen Group sold 192 thousand new passenger cars representing a 26.5% share of all new passenger cars sold in Europe in August 2021. This is 15.0% fewer vehicles and a 0.965 pp increase in market share when compared to last year. Looking back three years, VW's market share was 26.6%.
The Group sold 85.4 thousand of Volkswagen brand cars in August, followed by 40.3 thousand of Audis and 36.6 thousand of Skodas. Seat sold 25.7 thousand vehicles and Porsche some 3.31 thousand cars in August 2021:
PSA Group sold 85.1 thousand new passenger cars representing a 11.7% share of all new passenger cars sold in Europe in August 2021. This is 30.9% fewer vehicles and a 2.18 pp decrease in market share when compared to last year. By comparison, the market share three years ago stood at 13.7% and is down by 1.95 pp now.
The Group sold 32.6 thousand of Peugeots cars, followed by 27.5 thousand of Opels and 23.0 thousand of Citroens in August 2021:
BMW Group sold 52.1 thousand new passenger cars representing a 7.19% share of all new passenger cars sold in Europe in August 2021. This is 17.0% fewer vehicles and a 0.095 pp increase in market share when compared to last year. Compared to three years ago, BMW Group's market share is now 1.88 pp higher.
The group sold 43.6 thousand of BMW brand cars, followed by 8.56 thousand of Minis in August 2021:
Hyundai Group sold 73.1 thousand new passenger cars representing a 10.1% share of all new passenger cars sold in Europe in August 2021. This is 0.451% fewer vehicles and a 1.78 pp increase in market share when compared to last year. Compared to three years ago, Hyundai Group's market share is now 3.08 pp higher.
The group sold 34.9 thousand of Kia brand cars, followed by of s in August 2021:
Renault Group sold 68.6 thousand new passenger cars representing a 9.46% share of all new passenger cars sold in Europe in August 2021. This is 22.6% fewer vehicles and a 0.550 pp decrease in market share when compared to last year. By comparison, three years ago, Renault Group's market share was 12.8%.
The group sold 36.9 thousand of Renault brand cars in August, followed by 31.3 thousand of Dacias and 0.214 thousand of Ladas:
FCA Group sold 37.7 thousand new passenger cars representing a 5.20% share of all new passenger cars sold in Europe in August 2021. This is 25.4% fewer vehicles and a 0.515 pp decrease in market share when compared to last year. By comparison, three years ago FCA Group's market share stood at 6.35%.
The group sold 26.0 thousand of Fiat brand cars in August, followed by 8.08 thousand of Jeeps and 1.41 thousand of Alfa-Romeos:
Toyota Group sold 53.1 thousand new passenger cars representing a 7.33% share of all new passenger cars sold in Europe in August 2021. This is 3.45% more vehicles and a 1.52 pp increase in market share when compared to last year. Toyota Group's market share three years ago, by comparison, stood at 4.55%.
The group sold 50.0 thousand of Toyota brand cars in August, with Lexus following at 3.13 thousand cars:
Jaguar Land Rover Group sold 6.13 thousand new passenger cars representing a 0.846% share of all new passenger cars sold in Europe in August 2021. This is 22.3% fewer vehicles and a 0.047 pp decrease in market share when compared to last year. Three years ago however, the market share of Jaguar Land Rover Group was 1.17%.
The group sold 4.48 thousand of Land Rovers in August, followed by 1.65 thousand of Jaguars:
Daimler Group sold 37.3 thousand new passenger cars representing a 5.15% share of all new passenger cars sold in Europe in August 2021. This is 37.7% fewer vehicles and a 1.62 pp decrease in market share when compared to last year. By comparison, three years ago, Daimler Group's market share was 5.39%.
The group sold 36.2 thousand of Mercedes in August, followed by 1.18 thousand of Smart cars:
Based on a comparison of 64 countries, China ranked the highest with 20,178 thousand passenger cars sold in 2020 followed by Japan and the USA. Total sales of passenger cars reached 53,599 thousand in 2020 in the world, according to ACEA. This is 15.9% less than in the previous year and 3.98% less than 10 years ago. Historically, total sales of passenger cars reached an all time high of 70,695 thousand in 2017 and an all time low of 11,000 thousand in 1961. The average annual growth stands at 2.39% since 1960.
The top ranked country, China, accounted for 37.6% of all passenger cars sold in the world. The top 3 countries held a 51.1% share while the ten largest countries some 75.9% in 2020.
China was the largest car producer in 2020 with 19,994 thousand followed by Japan and Germany. Total production of passenger cars reached 55,834 thousand in 2020 in the world, according to ACEA. China accounted for 35.8% of the world's production, while the top 3 countries held a 54.6% share and the ten largest countries some 79.3% in 2020:
Based on a comparison of 29 countries, Germany ranked the highest in sales of electric cars with 395 thousand followed by France and United Kingdom in 2020. When looking at the ratio of electric to total new cars sold, Norway ranked the highest with 74.8% followed by Iceland and Sweden:
By contrast, the Czech Republic ranked the highest in the number of petrol-fuelled as a proportion of new cars sold with 64.6%, followed by Poland and Slovakia. In terms of diesel-fuelled vehicles, Estonia ranked the highest with 44.8% followed by Ireland and Luxembourg:
In 2016, Switzerland ranked the highest in 4x4 drive cars as a share of new cars sold with 42.1% followed by Norway and Sweden. Switzerland ranked the highest in the average power of new cars sold with 122 kW followed by Luxembourg and Sweden:
Based on the latest available data, Lithuania, Estonia and Romania were the countries with the oldest average age of passenger cars. The average age was an ancient 16.8 years in Lithuania, 16.7 years years for Estonia and 16.5 years years in Romania. On the other end of the scale was Austria with 8.30 years years, the United Kingdom with 8.00 years years and Luxembourg with 6.50 years years.
Based on a comparison of 27 firms among Global Car Producers, Volkswagen Group generated the highest sales in 2019 followed by Toyota Motor Corporation and Daimler Group. At the same time, Toyota Motor Corporation had the highest market value followed by Volkswagen Group and Tesla Inc.:
Volkswagen Group generated the highest earnings before interest costs, taxes and depreciation (so called EBITDA) in 2019 followed by Toyota Motor Corporation and General Motors. At the same time, Ferrari generated the highest EBITDA Margin followed by Porsche AG and BMW Group.
Ferrari produced the highest net profit per car sold in 2019 followed by Porsche AG and Toyota Motor Corporation. Ferrari made a net profit of USD 77,831 for each car sold, down 21.7% compared to the previous year.
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