Worldwide car sales grew to around ** million automobiles in 2024, up from around **** million units in 2023. Throughout 2020 and 2021, the sector experienced a downward trend on the back of a slowing global economy, while COVID-19 and the Russian war on Ukraine contributed to shortages in the automotive semiconductor industry and further supply chain disruptions in 2022. Despite these challenges, 2023 and 2024 sales surpassed pre-pandemic levels and are forecast to keep rising through 2025. Covid-19 hits car demand It had been estimated pre-pandemic that international car sales were on track to reach ** million. While 2023 sales are still far away from that goal, this was the first year were car sales exceeded pre-pandemic values. The automotive market faced various challenges in 2023, including supply shortages, automotive layoffs, and strikes in North America. However, despite these hurdles, the North American market was among the fastest-growing regions in 2024, along with Eastern Europe and Asia, as auto sales in these regions increased year-on-year. Chinese market recovers After years of double-digit growth, China's economy began to lose steam in 2022, and recovery has been slow through 2023. China was the largest automobile market based on sales with around **** million units in 2023. However, monthly car sales in China were in free-fall in April 2022 partly due to shortages, fears over a looming recession, and the country grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. By June of that same year, monthly sales in China were closer to those recorded in 2021.

This dataset provides values for TOTAL VEHICLE SALES reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

The Asia-Oceania and the Middle East region was the world's largest market for passenger and commercial vehicles, with sales amounting to nearly **** million units in 2022. The region dwarfed all other markets, with China representing more than half of the regional sales that year. China leads the way in the electrification of the market The Asia-Oceania and the Middle East market was dominated by automobile sales. Passenger car sales contributed to ***** percent of the sales in the region in 2022, and were also the leading motor vehicle segment worldwide in that same year. China, the main market in the region, led the way in the electric mobility sector. In 2022, it is estimated that over **** million plug-in electric vehicles were in use in the country, with sales of this type of vehicles reaching an all-time high in that same year. The electric vehicle market worldwide is tipped to reach revenues over ****** billion U.S. dollars by 2028. Leading automakers in close competition Globally, Volkswagen Group and Toyota Motor are the leading carmakers in terms of revenue. The Japanese auto giant generated almost ***** trillion Japanese yen in revenue in its 2023 fiscal year. The U.S.-based Tesla has also recorded a steep growth throughout 2022, as the brand with the highest brand value growth worldwide across sectors. Tesla was the second market leader in plug-in electric vehicle sales, with worldwide market shares close to ** percent in 2022. The brand was however edged out by China-based BYD, which surpassed Tesla due to its large sales volume of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

Strong growth in developing economies, like the BRICS and ASEAN member nations, has driven revenue for global car dealers despite slowdowns in established economies, like North America and Europe. Developed economies focus largely on value-added car purchases, while emerging markets focus primarily on volume. The transition to SUVs and crossovers with more safety and entertainment features has driven growth; in particular, these models' surging adoption rates have created numerous growth opportunities in developing economies. Even so, climbing interest rates across most key markets and faltering global consumer sentiment have somewhat constrained post-pandemic growth. Overall, revenue has expanded at an expected CAGR of 0.7% to $4.4 trillion through the current period, including a 2.1% jump in 2024, where profit reached 2.3%. Supply chain disruptions made new cars significantly more expensive, increasing inventory costs. Similarly, semiconductor and electronic component shortages reduced supply, leaving dealers with limited inventories. Even so, dealers were largely able to leverage torrid demand and pass added costs onto buyers, creating opportunities for revenue and profit growth. Volatile oil supply chains amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict also contributed to swelling demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles. Companies have also integrated online services to make the car-buying process simpler and more accessible, enabling them to combat heightened competition and access a wider network of buyers. The penetration of online platforms has transformed the car sales landscape, favoring larger dealership franchises over independent companies. Car dealers will continue to contend with substitutes, even as economic conditions improve and consumer sentiment rebounds through the outlook period. Government incentives and upstream innovations will also spur demand for electric and hybrid vehicles, generating strong per-unit revenue from dealers. Even so, slowing EV adoption rates in North America may dampen this segment's growth potential. Consumer preferences will also continue to trend toward online vehicle shopping, which provides convenience and efficiency to busy consumers, creating greater competition with various online dealers. Overall, revenue will climb at an expected CAGR of 2.5% to $4.9 trillion through the outlook period, where profit will reach 2.3%.

Globally, China accounted for the largest number of vehicle sales in 2023 with nearly 30.1 million units. At the end of 2023, China was estimated to be the world’s largest automobile market based on new car registrations. The United States accounted for the second largest sales volume at that time with about 16 million new vehicles being sold. There have been many changes in the vehicle industry in recent years, and changing markets and technologies are expected to affect car sales in dramatic ways. Vehicle sales The recent changes in vehicle sales and trade globally due to political tensions, changes to key markets, and changes in technology were already having an impact on the car industry. The reduction in sales in 2020 highly correlated with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, and semiconductor supply shortages as well as raw material price inflation have put further strain on the automotive industry. Despite the decline in recent years, but long-term trends forecast a sales increase in 2024. Vehicle production Vehicle production is also showing some stagnation. The most significant reduction occurred in 2020. Motor vehicle output has grown since, but only surpassed pre-pandemic levels in 2023. That said, declining production levels recorded before then in Europe were partly offset by rising output in China.

The average for 2023 based on 26 countries was 566051 passenger cars. The highest value was in Germany: 2844609 passenger cars and the lowest value was in Bulgaria: 35764 passenger cars. The indicator is available from 2005 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

In 2024, over **** million passenger cars were sold in China, making it the largest market in the Asia-Pacific region. India was the second-biggest market in the region, with nearly *** million unit sales in 2024. China - the biggest passenger car market China is by far the largest passenger car market in the world. Over half of the Asia-Pacific region’s and over a third of the world’s passenger car sales were attributed to China. The country’s car production is more than sufficient to meet domestic demand. However, China lags behind in passenger motor vehicle exports, with a value of around **** billion U.S. dollars in 2023, less than half of Germany’s passenger car export value. Electric vehicles development Electric vehicles (EVs) have increasingly gained popularity over the years, with their market share in passenger car sales more than tripling since 2020. In China, the largest EV market in the world, approximately *** million battery-electric passenger (BEV) cars were sold. This aligns with the success of three of the leading Chinese EV manufacturers, BYD, SAIC, and Geely-Volvo, who are among the best-selling BEV manufacturers globally. Yet, the BEV sector still faces challenges as customers remain concerned about driving range and charging time. Customers in the Asia-Pacific, in particular, tend to favor gas or diesel engines or hybrid engines over battery EVs.

Application and use cases

1 )Market Analysis: Evaluate overall trends and regional variations in car sales to assess manufacturer performance, model preferences, and demographic insights. 2) Seasonal Patterns and Competitor Analysis: Investigate seasonal and cyclical patterns in sales. 3) Forecasting and Predictive Analysis Use historical data for forecasting and predict future market trends. Support marketing, advertising, and investment decisions based on insights. 4) Supply Chain and Inventory Optimization: Provide valuable data for stakeholders in the automotive industry.

China is the world's largest automotive market: Chinese motorists purchased around **** million passenger cars in 2024. India was the second-largest market for passenger cars in Asia. Hit by the pandemic The global automotive industry was severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. Seemingly led by pent-up demand for cars when lockdowns were lifted, vehicle sales in the U.S. and other large markets worldwide have been showing signs of improvement since the third quarter of 2020. However, this was not enough to offset a decline in global car sales by the end of 2020. According to the source, passenger cars are motor vehicles with at least four wheels, used for the transport of passengers, and comprising no more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat. Global car sales declined overall in 2020. The global automotive semiconductor shortage further impacted vehicle inventory in 2021 and 2022, as supply chain disruptions led to **** million vehicles being removed from production worldwide. Short-range outlook Worldwide light vehicle sales are projected to increase by *** percent in 2025. Several factors could lead to a downturn in sales - among them, the potential tariffs on automotive products put in place by the Trump Administration in the United States, North America's largest car market. Additionally, the steady rise in autonomous and electric vehicle sales and related changes in the supply chain are likely to affect the industry in the next years.

China Automobile: Sales: Passenger Car (PC): by Brand's Country: Chinese Brand data was reported at 1,628,771.000 Unit in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,281,958.000 Unit for Feb 2025. China Automobile: Sales: Passenger Car (PC): by Brand's Country: Chinese Brand data is updated monthly, averaging 733,158.000 Unit from Jan 2011 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 171 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,062,450.000 Unit in Dec 2024 and a record low of 117,643.000 Unit in Feb 2020. China Automobile: Sales: Passenger Car (PC): by Brand's Country: Chinese Brand data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Automobile Sector – Table CN.RAB: Automobile Sales: By Brand's Country.

The average for 2023 based on 6 countries was 429024 passenger cars. The highest value was in Brazil: 1721400 passenger cars and the lowest value was in Ecuador: 98018 passenger cars. The indicator is available from 2005 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

The average for 2023 based on 3 countries was 187260 passenger cars. The highest value was in South Africa: 347388 passenger cars and the lowest value was in Egypt: 69175 passenger cars. The indicator is available from 2005 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

The average for 2023 based on 5 countries was 239694 passenger cars. The highest value was in Saudi Arabia: 645723 passenger cars and the lowest value was in Egypt: 69175 passenger cars. The indicator is available from 2005 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Key information about China Motor Vehicle Sales: Passenger Cars

• China Motor Vehicle Sales: Passenger Cars was reported at 26,062,824.000 Unit in Dec 2023.
• This records an increase from the previous number of 23,563,287.000 Unit for Dec 2022.
• China Motor Vehicle Sales: Passenger Cars data is updated yearly, averaging 19,707,677.000 Unit from Dec 2005 to 2023, with 19 observations.
• The data reached an all-time high of 26,062,824.000 Unit in 2023 and a record low of 3,971,101.000 Unit in 2005.
• China Motor Vehicle Sales: Passenger Cars data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers.
• The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Association: Automobile Sector – Table RA.OICA.MVS: Motor Vehicle Sales: by Country and Type: Passenger Car (PC).

Key information about Russia Motor Vehicle Sales: Passenger Cars

• Russia Motor Vehicle Sales: Passenger Cars was reported at 1,049,917.000 Unit in Dec 2023.
• This records an increase from the previous number of 629,923.000 Unit for Dec 2022.
• Russia Motor Vehicle Sales: Passenger Cars data is updated yearly, averaging 1,567,743.000 Unit from Dec 2005 to 2023, with 19 observations.
• The data reached an all-time high of 2,897,459.000 Unit in 2008 and a record low of 629,923.000 Unit in 2022.
• Russia Motor Vehicle Sales: Passenger Cars data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers.
• The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Association: Automobile Sector – Table RA.OICA.MVS: Motor Vehicle Sales: by Country and Type: Passenger Car (PC).

This dataset provides values for TOTAL VEHICLE SALES reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

Key information about China Motor Vehicles Sales

• China Motor Vehicles Sales recorded 2,128,611 units in Feb 2025, compared with 2,423,494 units in the previous month.
• China Motor Vehicles Sales is updated monthly, available from Jan 2000 to Feb 2025, with an averaged number of 1,594,858 units.
• The data reached an all-time high of 3,488,605 units in Dec 2024 and a record low of 113,367 units in Feb 2000.
• In the latest reports, Retail Sales of China grew 13 % YoY in May 2023.

The average for 2023 based on 17 countries was 2353250 passenger cars. The highest value was in China: 26062824 passenger cars and the lowest value was in Pakistan: 58562 passenger cars. The indicator is available from 2005 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Market Size statistics on the Global Car & Automobile Sales industry in Global

At about 23.56 million units, China remained the largest market for passenger car sales in 2022. According to the source, passenger cars are motor vehicles with at least four wheels, used for the transport of passengers, and comprising no more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat. Hence, the figures do not include light trucks.

Pandemic causes sales slump across all markets

Worldwide, passenger car sales have been slowly increasing. Car sales started falling dramatically during the 2008-2009 economic crisis and re-entered a sales slump at the end of 2018. Sales slumped in 2020 due to the outbreak of Covid-19 and related measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus. However, despite the impact of the semiconductor chip shortage on vehicle production, global car sales have slowly increased in 2021 and 2022. This growth is however still behind the sales volume recorded in 2019, before the onset of the pandemic. Spotlight on the largest markets
In Europe, about 75 percent of new passenger car registrations occur in the largest markets, which include Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain. Despite a slowdown in demand in 2020, China has seen the largest increases in passenger vehicle sales between 2005 and 2020, growing from 3.97 million units to some 20 million units. During this time period, leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) like General Motors or Volkswagen enjoyed rising sales trends not just in China, but across all Asian markets. China, Japan, Germany, India, and the United States are ranked among the world’s largest car markets. These countries are home to many of the major motor vehicle manufacturers, including theworld’s largest automakers in 2022.