Because it is the third largest automotive market in the world behind China and the United States, we will analyze car sales in Europe during 2018, which remained stable, since there were 15.6 million vehicles sold, only 346 more than in 2017.
This small growth was enough for the European market to see its best result since 2007 when it reached its peak with 16.02 million vehicles. A very interesting fact, which shows consumer preferences, is that diesel vehicles registered their lowest market share since 2001.
By countries, the solid results of Spain, Poland, and the Netherlands stood out, while the United Kingdom, Italy, and Sweden had a decrease in their car sales. Likewise, Poland, Slovakia, Luxembourg, and Lithuania recorded record volume levels, while it was the best year since 2007 for Spain and Estonia, and the best year since 2008 for Romania, Hungary, Croatia, and Latvia.
It also stands out that most of the registered vehicles were powered by gasoline engines which represented 57 percent of all sales. This result marks an increase of 7 points in the market share in 2017 and an increase of 12 points in the last 10 years.
Regarding alternative energies, electric cars and plug-in hybrid cars registered 944,800 units sold and a market share of 6.1 percent. In particular, most of the growth was driven by pure electric vehicles, which were sold more than hybrid plug-in vehicles.
Despite growing at a slower pace than in previous years, the shift from traditional cars to SUVs continued in 2018. In total, 5.4 million SUVs were registered in Europe throughout the year, 19 percent more than in 2017.
By models, the Volkswagen Golf was once again the best-selling car in Europe, however, it registered a drop of 8 percent, mainly due to a large drop in its sales of diesel cars.
The table of the most sold cars in Europe during 2018:
2018 Position |
2017 Position |
Model | 2018 Sales | Variation |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Volkswagen Golf | 502,752 | -8.8% |
2 | 2 | Renault Clio | 365,508 | -0.7% |
3 | 3 | Volkswagen Polo | 313,449 | 5.3% |
4 | 5 | Ford Fiesta | 274,455 | 4.9% |
5 | 7 | Volkswagen Tiguan | 258,491 | 4.8% |
6 | 4 | Nissan Qashqai | 252,705 | -7.0% |
7 | 8 | Skoda Octavia | 240,645 | -1.0% |
8 | 6 | Peugeot 208 | 235,357 | -5.2% |
9 | 13 | Dacia Sandero | 225.261 | 3.7% |
10 | 9 | Opel Corsa | 222,953 | -7.7% |
11 | 15 | Citroen C3 | 222,686 | 5.0% |
12 | 12 | Renault Captur | 215,786 | -1.4% |
13 | 17 | Toyota Yaris | 214,499 | 6.1% |
14 | 23 | Peugeot 3008 | 210,088 | 19.5% |
15 | 11 | Ford Focus | 210,083 | -11.9% |
16 | 16 | Volkswagen Passat | 193,049 | -8.4% |
17 | 25 | Dacia Duster | 192.194 | 15.3% |
18 | 21 | Peugeot 2008 | 179,742 | -1.5% |
19 | 19 | Skoda Fabia | 177,979 | -3.7% |
21 | 14 | Renault Mégane | 176,276 | -16.9% |
22 | 18 | Fiat Panda | 173,152 | -9.0% |
22 | 10 | Opel Astra | 168,070 | -30.4% |
23 | 22 | Fiat 500 | 162,604 | -7.7% |
24 | 28 | Ford Kuga | 160,020 | 1.4% |
25 | 20 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 159,492 | -13.6% |
SEAT is showcasing the stunning IBZ Concept at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. The star of the SEAT stand in Germany previews a new, family-sized version of the Ibiza that will make its debut in...read more
Honda Siel Cars India Ltd. (HSCI), a leading manufacturer of premium cars in India, today unveiled the world premiere of the Honda New Small Concept, a concept model for a new small-sized...read more
With its exterior styling elements and dedicated interior finishes, textures and colours, Toyota Yaris Trend is aimed at younger customers for who make fashionable design a priority.As well as...read more
The number of Ford Kuga plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles registered in Europe increased by 20% in 2022 compared to 2021. The model's rising demand made it the best-selling plug-in...read more
How did Hyundai improve Accent's EPA fuel economy for 2010 without adding thousands of dollars to the price like a hybrid does? The answer is the introduction of the...read more
Cavorting in a Cabriolet Cabriolet was originally a French verb that meant "to cavort" or "cut a caper," but in the 1700s, the term came to be used to describe "a light, two-...read more
Mazda CX-3 compact crossover SUV is equipped with SKYACTIV technologies and the KODO design language. The model will make its world debut premiere at Los Angeles Auto Show in...read more
Porsche is known for making some of the most desirable sports cars in the world, but the German automaker also offers a high level of customization for its customers. The latest example of...read more
A place to be shared with family and friends: a liveable area for people who travel and love to be in company; for people who choose the Doblò as a companion for relaxation or work....read more
The all-new Ford Ranger – the latest in a wave of global vehicles – makes its worldwide debut today at the Australian International Motor Show. The all-new Ranger...read more