The EU auto industry underpins millions of livelihoods, from manufacturing to the broader automotive ecosystem: 1.2 million work directly in production, while the wider sector totals 13.8 million jobs across the EU. It also drives trade and output—EU27 vehicle production reached 12.78 million units in 2022, down 6.5% year over year. Explore how these trends link to investment in R&D, lower CO2 performance, and the move to zero‑emission new cars by 2035.
Key Takeaways
- The EU auto industry directly employs 1.2 million people in manufacturing
- Total EU automotive sector employment reaches 13.8 million jobs, including indirect
- In Germany, 830,000 people work in auto manufacturing as of 2022
- EU auto industry turnover: €775 billion in 2022
- Contribution to EU GDP: 7% from automotive sector in 2022
- EU auto trade surplus: €109.4 billion in 2022
- In 2022, the EU27 produced 12.78 million motor vehicles, down 6.5% from 2021
- Germany accounted for 4.16 million vehicles produced in the EU in 2022, representing 32.5% of total EU output
- In 2023 Q1, EU car production reached 2.79 million units, a 5.1% decline year-over-year
- EU passenger car registrations reached 10.5 million in 2022, down 8.8% from 2021
- Germany led EU car sales with 2.82 million registrations in 2022
- France registered 1.91 million new passenger cars in 2022
- EU spent €62 billion on automotive R&D in 2021, 30% of global total
- EU new car CO2 emissions averaged 108.4 g/km in 2022, down 2.3% YoY
- 100% of new EU cars must be zero-emission by 2035 per regulation
The EU automotive sector drives jobs, exports, and R&D while vehicle output and sales fell in 2022.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment And Labor18 stats
01
The EU auto industry directly employs 1.2 million people in manufacturing
02
Total EU automotive sector employment reaches 13.8 million jobs, including indirect
03
In Germany, 830,000 people work in auto manufacturing as of 2022
04
France employs 210,000 in vehicle production
05
Spain's auto sector supports 450,000 direct and indirect jobs
06
Italy has 510,000 jobs in automotive industry
07
Czech Republic auto employment: 130,000 people
08
Slovakia employs 120,000 in vehicle manufacturing
09
Poland's auto sector jobs: 200,000 direct
10
EU auto R&D personnel: 380,000 highly qualified engineers
11
Automotive apprenticeships in EU: 400,000 trainees annually
12
Female employment in EU auto manufacturing: 22% of workforce in 2022
13
Average hourly labor cost in EU auto manufacturing: €32.5 in 2021
14
EU auto sector job losses: 100,000 since 2019 due to electrification
15
Hungary auto employment: 90,000 jobs
16
Romania employs 70,000 in vehicle production
17
Portugal auto jobs: 50,000 direct
18
Sweden automotive employment: 100,000
Interpretation
Employment And Labor Interpretation
The EU auto industry underpins jobs across the labor market, with 1.2 million people directly employed in manufacturing and 13.8 million in the broader automotive sector, while countries like Germany lead with 830,000 auto manufacturing jobs as of 2022.
02 · Category
Financial And Economic18 stats
01
EU auto industry turnover: €775 billion in 2022
02
Contribution to EU GDP: 7% from automotive sector in 2022
03
EU auto trade surplus: €109.4 billion in 2022
04
Germany auto exports: €174 billion in 2022
05
R&D investment by EU auto makers: €75 billion annually
06
EU vehicle manufacturing value added: €150 billion in 2021
07
Average revenue per EU car producer employee: €500,000 in 2022
08
Stellantis 2023 revenue: €189.5 billion, with EU major contributor
09
Volkswagen Group revenue: €322.3 billion in 2023
10
BMW revenue from automotive: €155.5 billion in 2023
11
EU auto parts turnover: €400 billion in 2022
12
Tax revenue from EU auto sector: €200 billion annually
13
EU-China auto trade deficit: €50 billion in 2022
14
Investment in EU battery production: €30 billion committed by 2030
15
Average profit margin EU OEMs: 6.5% in 2022
16
France auto industry GDP contribution: 2.1%
17
Spain auto exports: €35 billion in 2022
18
EU auto sector capital expenditure: €50 billion yearly
Interpretation
Financial And Economic Interpretation
In financial and economic terms, the EU automotive sector was a major growth engine in 2022 with €775 billion in turnover and a €109.4 billion trade surplus, while still sustaining heavy innovation spending at about €75 billion a year on R&D.
03 · Category
Production And Manufacturing27 stats
01
In 2022, the EU27 produced 12.78 million motor vehicles, down 6.5% from 2021
02
Germany accounted for 4.16 million vehicles produced in the EU in 2022, representing 32.5% of total EU output
03
In 2023 Q1, EU car production reached 2.79 million units, a 5.1% decline year-over-year
04
Spain produced 2.23 million vehicles in 2022, making it the second-largest producer in the EU
05
France's automobile production in 2022 was 1.41 million units, a 12.2% drop from prior year
06
EU battery electric vehicle (BEV) production hit 1.4 million units in 2022, up 40% from 2021
07
In 2022, the EU manufactured 2.1 million hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs)
08
Italy produced 790,846 vehicles in 2022, down 15.6% YoY
09
Czech Republic's vehicle output was 1.41 million in 2022, 8th in EU rankings
10
Slovakia led per capita production with 1.02 million vehicles in 2022 despite small population
11
EU commercial vehicle production fell 13.6% to 2.47 million units in 2022
12
In January 2024, EU passenger car production was 944,913 units, down 0.1% YoY
13
Hungary produced 452,748 vehicles in 2022, up 4.7% YoY
14
Poland's output reached 573,504 units in 2022
15
Romania manufactured 433,989 vehicles in 2022
16
EU engine production totaled 15.2 million units in 2022, down 5%
17
In 2023, EU27 vehicle production was projected at 15.3 million units
18
Belgium produced 226,278 vehicles in 2022
19
Sweden's output was 235,518 units in 2022, down 20%
20
Austria manufactured 121,361 vehicles in 2022
21
Portugal produced 340,190 units in 2022, up 32.5% YoY
22
EU27 produced 12.78 million motor vehicles in 2022, down 6.5%
23
In 2023, EU car production fell 2.5% to 10.64 million units
24
EU commercial vehicle production: 2.59 million in 2023, up 4.9%
25
Germany car production: 3.76 million in 2023
26
EU BEV production: 1.6 million in 2023, 16% of total cars
27
PHEV production in EU: 1.3 million units 2023
Interpretation
Production And Manufacturing Interpretation
In the EU’s production and manufacturing sector, motor vehicle output fell to 12.78 million in 2022 down 6.5% from 2021 while EU BEV production surged to 1.4 million up 40%, showing a clear shift in manufacturing momentum toward electric vehicles.
More related reading
05 · Category
Sustainability And Environment20 stats
01
EU spent €62 billion on automotive R&D in 2021, 30% of global total
02
EU new car CO2 emissions averaged 108.4 g/km in 2022, down 2.3% YoY
03
100% of new EU cars must be zero-emission by 2035 per regulation
04
EU BEV fleet reached 3.5% of total passenger cars in 2022
05
EU-27 CO2 reduction target for cars: 55% by 2030 vs 2021
06
Renewable energy use in EU auto manufacturing: 25% in 2022
07
EU truck CO2 standards: 15% reduction by 2025
08
Battery recycling rate target: 95% by 2030 in EU
09
EU auto industry water usage: 1.2 billion m³ annually
10
Share of recycled materials in new EU cars: 25kg per vehicle average
11
EU aims for 30 million zero-emission cars by 2030
12
GHG emissions from EU auto production: 100 million tonnes CO2eq in 2021
13
EU tyre labelling energy efficiency: A-rated tyres 40% of market in 2022
14
Scope 3 emissions reporting mandatory for EU OEMs from 2024
15
EU hydrogen refuelling stations: 178 operational in 2023
16
Biofuel blending in EU diesel: 7% average in 2022
17
EU car fleet average age: 12.2 years in 2022
18
NOx emissions from new EU cars: reduced 80% since 2001
19
EU battery gigafactories planned: 60 GWh capacity by 2025
20
PM emissions cut 90% in EU new cars since Euro 1
Interpretation
Sustainability And Environment Interpretation
With EU new car CO2 down 2.3% year over year to 108.4 g/km in 2022 and a clear regulatory push to reach 100% zero emission new cars by 2035, the sustainability and environment trend is that the shift toward cleaner vehicles is accelerating alongside growing electrification, even as BEVs reached 3.5% of the passenger car fleet.
report visual · Key figures
EU auto industry snapshot: jobs and output shifts
Employment and production indicators highlight the EU auto sector’s scale alongside recent demand and electrification-driven changes.
13.8
Total EU automotive sector employment reaches 13.8 million jobs, including indirect
100,000
EU auto sector job losses: 100,000 since 2019 due to electrification
6.5%
In 2022, the EU27 produced 12.78 million motor vehicles, down 6.5% from 2021
40%
EU battery electric vehicle (BEV) production hit 1.4 million units in 2022, up 40% from 2021
120,000
Slovakia employs 120,000 in vehicle manufacturing
2023
In 2023, EU27 vehicle production was projected at 15.3 million units
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Min-ji Park. (2026, February 13). Eu Auto Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/eu-auto-industry-statistics
MLA
Min-ji Park. "Eu Auto Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/eu-auto-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Min-ji Park. 2026. "Eu Auto Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/eu-auto-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
24 datasets cited across this report