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 and 2026. 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.

At around 1.2 million unit sales, light trucks remained the largest U.S. auto market segment in August 2025, up from around 1.1 million unit sales in August 2024. Global chip shortage affects supply The second quarter of 2020 saw a significant drop in automotive sales volume compared to the year before. Most of the disruption was seen in May, before restrictions to curtail the coronavirus pandemic were lifted. Sales showed signs of recovery in the following months, before dropping again in 2021. The industry's inventory-to-sales ratio nosedived in May 2020, and has not fully recovered since. Supply issues were not felt as strongly across the automotive sector, while car demand was low due to national lockdowns brought on by the pandemic. However, as consumers' purchasing intentions picked up, vehicle stocks could not meet the new demand due to chip shortages, which led to production halts and cuts. U.S. vehicle sales gain momentum thanks to light truck sales As the year 2020 came to an end, motor vehicle sales in the United States finished on a high note. Following the Covid-19 disruption, the U.S. auto sector began to recover in the third quarter. However, the semiconductor shortage and global inflation further impacted sales in 2021 and 2022. In contrast, 2024 was an encouraging year. U.S. motor vehicle sales grew to over 15.8 million that year, which was the highest it had been since the onset of the pandemic. This jump in sales was partly due to light truck retail sales, which exceeded their pre-pandemic level in 2024.

In 2021, a little under 15.4 million heavy trucks, light trucks, and cars were sold to customers in the United States. Light trucks accounted for about 75 percent of U.S. motor vehicle sales that year.

The number of new and used vehicles and the sales dollars respectively sold by month.

MDOT MVA’s Customer Connect modernization project, implemented in July 2020, has increased the amount of data that is collected and used to calculate car sales. This data is updated in real time and may fluctuate based on external factors, including electronic submissions from dealers and other vendors.

Number of units and total sales of new motor vehicles by vehicle type and origin of manufacture, monthly.

Total Vehicle Sales in Thailand decreased to 47032 Units in October from 48350 Units in September of 2025. This dataset provides - Thailand Total Vehicle Sales- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Motor vehicle sales grew by some ***** percent worldwide between 2023 and 2024. Passenger vehicles increased by around *** percent compared to the previous year, when some **** million cars were sold worldwide. The current state of the market In 2024, motor vehicle sales reached over **** million units worldwide. China was the largest automobile market worldwide, making up close to **** million of the new car registrations in 2023. The United States and Europe ranked second and third, with light vehicle sales reaching approximately **** million units in the U.S. market. The German-based Volkswagen Group and Japanese Toyota Motor were the global leading automakers, with revenues reaching around ***** and ***** billion U.S. dollars respectively as of May 2024. The path to recovery The automotive chip shortage led to around **** million vehicles being cut from worldwide production in 2021, and forecasts estimate that these disruptions in the automotive supply chain will contribute to the removal of another ***** million units from production in 2022. However, despite these challenges, the demand for passenger cars increased in 2021 and 2022, as car sales slowly started to increase. This is partly due to consumers' interest in electric vehicles. Autonomous,electrified, and battery electric vehicles are also forecast to gain popularity in the next decades. Electrified vehicles are projected to make up close to ********* of car sales worldwide by 2025. By 2040, China is forecast to be one of the largest market for autonomous vehicle sales.

Key information about United States Motor Vehicles Sales Growth

• United States Motor Vehicles Sales grew 2.4 % in Aug 2025, compared with a growth of 6.7 % in the previous month.
• US Motor Vehicles Sales Growth rate is updated monthly, available from Jan 1977 to Aug 2025, with an average growth rate of -10.5 %.
• The data reached an all-time high of 109.5 % in Apr 2021 and a record low of -45.9 % in Apr 2020.
• Car Sales of US recorded 1,491,440.0 units in Aug 2025.

Total Vehicle Sales in Russia decreased to 93791 Units in May from 105939 Units in April of 2025. This dataset provides - Russia Total Vehicle Sales- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Electric Vehicle Sales: ytd: Rivian data was reported at 8,553.000 Unit in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 51,579.000 Unit for Dec 2024. Electric Vehicle Sales: ytd: Rivian data is updated quarterly, averaging 17,087.000 Unit from Dec 2021 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 14 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 51,579.000 Unit in Dec 2024 and a record low of 583.000 Unit in Dec 2021. Electric Vehicle Sales: ytd: Rivian data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Cox Automotive. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.RA008: Electric Vehicle Sales: by Brand and Model: ytd.

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The online car buying market share is expected to increase by USD 214.41 million from 2021 to 2026, and the market’s growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 12.4%.

This online car buying market research report provides valuable insights into the post-COVID-19 impact on the market, which will help companies evaluate their business approaches. Furthermore, this report extensively covers the online car buying market segmentations by Class Type (pre-owned and new vehicle) and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The online car buying market report also offers information on several market vendors, including American City Business Journals Inc., Asbury Automotive Group Inc., AutoNation Inc., CarGurus Inc., CarMax Inc., Cars & Bids LLC, Cars.com Inc., Cars24 Services Pvt. Ltd., CarSoup of Minnesota Inc., Carvago, Carvana Co., Cox Enterprises Inc., eBay Inc., Edmunds.com Inc., Hendrick Automotive Group, Lithia Motors Inc., MH Sub I LLC, Miami Lakes Automall, and TrueCar Inc., among others.

What will the Online Car Buying Market Size be During the Forecast Period?

Download Report Sample to Unlock the Online Car Buying Market Size for the Forecast Period and Other Important Statistics

Online Car Buying Market: Key Drivers, Trends, and Challenges

The research studied the historical data considered for years, with 2021 as the base year and 2022 as the estimated year, and produced drivers, trends, and challenges for the global online car buying market.

Key Online Car Buying Market Driver

The increasing adoption of e-commerce and technological advancements in online channels are key factors driving the global online car buying market growth. Technological advancements such as the development of smartphones and rising Internet penetration are spurring the use of e-commerce applications to boost the sales of businesses, while the introduction of hybrid and electric vehicles has changed the buyers' position in the global online car buying market. With the aid of online technology, consumers are learning more about the vehicle, the on-road prices of new automobiles, residual value, third-party profit margins, and other factors for used cars. Additionally, growing urbanization, an increase in Internet connectivity, and the growth of the telecom industry have made it possible for the general public to access information much more easily. Online car dealers are increasingly using these factors to advertise their vehicles and disseminate information about them. The sale process has been streamlined on web platforms, which also makes it possible for more stakeholders to sell and acquire used cars. Thus, the growing e-commerce industry and the increasing adoption of technological advancements by vendors will propel the growth of the global online car buying market during the forecast period.

Key Online Car Buying Market Trend

Easy online financing will fuel the global online car buying market growth. Financing options are widely available on many car-buying websites, which encourages customers to get preapproval for loans before they even start looking for cars on their websites. According to a survey, 71% of customers choose to finance through the site where they purchased their car. These customers are highly satisfied with the financing options available on car-buying websites. Hassle-free loan applications and favorable interest rates attract more customers to opt for online financing options. For instance, AutoNation Inc. provides hassle-free auto financing options for every customer according to his or her needs and requirements. The company offers a wide range of finance programs that makes auto financing simple and clear. To provide a variety of financing and leasing alternatives, AutoNation has partnered with hundreds of banks in the US. Owing to such easy financing options, customers are attracted to online car-buying options. Thus, the availability of hassle-free and paperless online auto finance provided by car-buying websites will fuel the growth of the global online car buying market during the forecast period.

Key Online Car Buying Market Challenge

Limited customer awareness and acceptance in semi-urban and rural areas are the major challenges to the global online car buying market growth. Buying a car online is still an urban concept despite its prevalence and its numerous advantages. The acceptance of buying a car through online channels is low in semi-urban and rural areas. Buying cars online has not penetrated a large portion of the population, particularly in developing countries such as India. In emerging economies, including India, China, and Indonesia, a car is considered a status symbol. Thus, customers in such countries generally prefer to buy a car through physical stores where they can physically inspect the features of the car. For the middle-class population, buying a car is a major in

Puerto Rico: New passenger car sales, numbers per year: The latest value from 2024 is 100817 passenger cars, an increase from 85486 passenger cars in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 1139349 passenger cars, based on data from 57 countries. Historically, the average for Puerto Rico from 2005 to 2024 is 71362 passenger cars. The minimum value, 45000 passenger cars, was reached in 2010 while the maximum of 100817 passenger cars was recorded in 2024.

Germany: New passenger car sales, numbers per year: The latest value from 2024 is 2817331 passenger cars, a decline from 2844609 passenger cars in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 1139349 passenger cars, based on data from 57 countries. Historically, the average for Germany from 2005 to 2024 is 3144463 passenger cars. The minimum value, 2622132 passenger cars, was reached in 2021 while the maximum of 3807175 passenger cars was recorded in 2009.

In 2024, the auto industry in the United States sold approximately 15.9 million light vehicle units. This figure includes retail sales of about three million passenger cars and just under 12.9 million light trucks. Lower fuel consumption There are many kinds of light vehicles available in the United States. Light-duty vehicles are popular for their utility and improved fuel economy, making them an ideal choice for savvy consumers. As of Model Year 2023, the light vehicle manufacturer with the best overall miles per gallon was Kia, with one gallon of gas allowing for 30.4 miles on the road. Higher brand satisfaction When asked about light vehicle satisfaction, consumers in the United States were most satisfied with Toyota, Subaru, Tesla, and Mercedes-Benz models. Another survey conducted in 2018 and quizzing respondents on their stance regarding the leading car brands indicated that Lexus was among the most dependable brands based on the number of problems reported per 100 vehicles.

Norway: New passenger car sales, numbers per year: The latest value from 2024 is 128687 passenger cars, an increase from 126953 passenger cars in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 1139349 passenger cars, based on data from 57 countries. Historically, the average for Norway from 2005 to 2024 is 136224 passenger cars. The minimum value, 98675 passenger cars, was reached in 2009 while the maximum of 176276 passenger cars was recorded in 2021.

Ukraine: New commercial vehicle sales, numbers per year: The latest value from 2024 is 14165 commercial vehicles, an increase from 12907 commercial vehicles in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 469421 commercial vehicles, based on data from 58 countries. Historically, the average for Ukraine from 2015 to 2024 is 12393 commercial vehicles. The minimum value, 5795 commercial vehicles, was reached in 2015 while the maximum of 18510 commercial vehicles was recorded in 2021.

Poland: New commercial vehicle sales, numbers per year: The latest value from 2024 is 97197 commercial vehicles, a decline from 101818 commercial vehicles in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 469421 commercial vehicles, based on data from 58 countries. Historically, the average for Poland from 2005 to 2024 is 77515 commercial vehicles. The minimum value, 46121 commercial vehicles, was reached in 2009 while the maximum of 107966 commercial vehicles was recorded in 2021.

Electric Vehicle Sales: ytd: Kia data was reported at 8,656.000 Unit in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 56,099.000 Unit for Dec 2024. Electric Vehicle Sales: ytd: Kia data is updated quarterly, averaging 13,566.000 Unit from Mar 2021 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 17 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 56,099.000 Unit in Dec 2024 and a record low of 680.000 Unit in Mar 2021. Electric Vehicle Sales: ytd: Kia data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Cox Automotive. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.RA008: Electric Vehicle Sales: by Brand and Model: ytd.

Austria: New commercial vehicle sales, numbers per year: The latest value from 2024 is 42063 commercial vehicles, an increase from 39746 commercial vehicles in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 469421 commercial vehicles, based on data from 58 countries. Historically, the average for Austria from 2005 to 2024 is 42217 commercial vehicles. The minimum value, 29644 commercial vehicles, was reached in 2022 while the maximum of 66373 commercial vehicles was recorded in 2021.