While headlines scream of a European auto industry in decline, the 2022-2023 data reveals a sector in the throes of a monumental, if turbulent, transformation, with electric vehicle production soaring and deep-seated economic strength enduring through the storm.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the European Union produced 13.4 million passenger cars, marking a 6.2% decline from 2021 due to supply chain disruptions.
- Germany led EU passenger car production in 2022 with 3.6 million units, accounting for 27% of total EU output.
- Spain produced 2.2 million vehicles in 2022, including 1.8 million passenger cars, boosted by foreign investments.
- EU new car registrations reached 10.6 million units in 2022, a 2% increase from 2021.
- Germany topped new car sales in 2022 with 2.9 million registrations, 27% of EU total.
- France registered 1.9 million new cars in 2022, up 0.9% year-on-year.
- The EU automotive sector employed 13.8 million people directly and indirectly in 2022.
- Germany had 866,000 direct automotive jobs in 2022, 28% of EU total.
- Automotive manufacturing in EU supported 6.5 million indirect jobs in 2022.
- BEV sales in EU reached 2.4 million units in 2023, up 37% from 2022.
- EU CO2 emissions from new cars averaged 108.4 g/km in 2022, down 3.5%.
- 23.5% of new EU car registrations were electrified (BEV+PHEV+HEV) in 2023.
- EU auto industry exports totaled €223 billion in 2022.
- Automotive trade surplus in EU was €87 billion in 2022.
- Germany exported €130 billion in vehicles in 2022, 58% of EU total.
The European auto industry is declining overall but seeing strong growth in electric vehicle production and sales.
Economic and Trade Figures
- EU auto industry exports totaled €223 billion in 2022.
- Automotive trade surplus in EU was €87 billion in 2022.
- Germany exported €130 billion in vehicles in 2022, 58% of EU total.
- EU vehicle imports rose 15% to €136 billion in 2022.
- Auto sector contributed 7% to EU manufacturing value added in 2022.
- Turnover of EU auto manufacturers was €775 billion in 2022.
- Investments in EU auto industry reached €42 billion in 2022.
- France's auto trade balance was €5.2 billion surplus in 2022.
- EU-China auto trade deficit widened to €50 billion in 2022.
- UK exported 128,000 cars to EU in 2022, down 20% post-Brexit.
- EU parts and components exports hit €120 billion in 2022.
- Automotive sector generated €190 billion in taxes for EU governments in 2022.
- Automotive value added €300 billion to EU GDP in 2022.
- EU-US auto trade €100 billion annually pre-2023.
- Italy exported €47 billion vehicles 2022.
- EU intra-trade 70% of total auto trade volume 2022.
- Turnover of EU parts suppliers €450 billion 2022.
- Auto investments in digitalization €15 billion 2022.
- Czech auto exports €50 billion, 80% to EU 2022.
- EU tariffs on Chinese EVs proposed 20-38% in 2024.
- Slovakia GDP contribution from auto 12% in 2022.
- EU auto retail sales value €400 billion 2022.
- Germany trade surplus auto €100 billion 2022.
Economic and Trade Figures Interpretation
The European auto industry remains a formidable economic engine, as evidenced by its staggering €223 billion export haul and healthy trade surplus, but it’s simultaneously navigating a pothole-filled road of surging imports, a yawning deficit with China, and the expensive digital transformation required to stay in the race.
Electric Vehicles and Sustainability
- BEV sales in EU reached 2.4 million units in 2023, up 37% from 2022.
- EU CO2 emissions from new cars averaged 108.4 g/km in 2022, down 3.5%.
- 23.5% of new EU car registrations were electrified (BEV+PHEV+HEV) in 2023.
- EU has 450,000 public EV charging points as of end-2023, up 50% from 2022.
- Volkswagen invested €30 billion in electrification by 2025, with 70 EV models planned.
- Northvolt's gigafactory in Sweden to produce 60 GWh batteries annually by 2024.
- EU battery production capacity to reach 700 GWh by 2030 under IPCEI projects.
- 14.6% BEV market share in EU new registrations Q1 2024.
- PHEV registrations down 29% to 192,000 units in Q1 2024 in EU.
- EU recycling rate for ELVs (end-of-life vehicles) achieved 95.2% in 2022.
- Mercedes-Benz aims for 50% EV sales in Europe by 2030.
- BMW i-series sales grew 74% in Europe in 2023.
- EU hydrogen fuel cell vehicle registrations totaled 2,100 in 2022.
- 65% of EU consumers consider EVs for next purchase per 2023 survey.
- EU public fast chargers grew to 200,000 by 2023.
- CO2 targets: EU fleet average to 93.6 g/km by 2025.
- 2023 EU BEV registrations 2.65 million cumulative.
- ACCURE battery recycling plant in Germany processes 15,000 tons/year.
- EU Green Deal invests €100 billion in sustainable mobility by 2030.
- Norway (EEA) 89% BEV share in 2023.
- EU spent €25 billion on battery R&D 2018-2023.
- Renault's Gigafactory France to produce 40 GWh by 2025.
- 30% of EU fleet to be zero-emission by 2030 mandate.
- Hydrogen refueling stations in EU: 178 in 2023.
- EU auto patents in EV tech: 25,000 in 2022.
- Fiat 500e top small BEV with 65,000 sales EU 2023.
- EU vehicle scrappage schemes recycled 8 million ELVs in 2022.
Electric Vehicles and Sustainability Interpretation
While Europe's auto industry is furiously rewiring itself, charging into an electric future with the speed of a DC fast charger, it's still grappling with the legacy exhaust fumes of its past and the need to build a grid to power it all.
Employment Data
- The EU automotive sector employed 13.8 million people directly and indirectly in 2022.
- Germany had 866,000 direct automotive jobs in 2022, 28% of EU total.
- Automotive manufacturing in EU supported 6.5 million indirect jobs in 2022.
- France's auto industry employed 540,000 people in 2022, including suppliers.
- Spain's automotive sector provided 350,000 jobs in 2022, with growth in EV assembly.
- R&D in EU auto industry employed 400,000 engineers and specialists in 2022.
- Automotive apprenticeships in Germany reached 55,000 in 2022.
- EU auto sector saw 2.5% employment growth in battery production from 2021-2022.
- Italy's auto workforce totaled 240,000 in 2022, focused on design and components.
- UK automotive employment stood at 183,000 direct jobs in 2022 post-Brexit.
- Women represented 22% of EU auto industry workforce in 2022.
- Average hourly labor cost in EU auto manufacturing was €32.5 in 2021.
- EU invested €60 billion in automotive R&D in 2022, 5.5% of global total.
- Germany employment in auto suppliers 500,000 in 2022.
- EU auto R&D spend per employee €12,000 annually in 2022.
- Romania's auto jobs grew to 130,000 in 2022.
- Portugal employed 70,000 in auto sector 2022.
- Average age of auto workers in EU 44 years in 2022.
- 15% rise in EV-related jobs in EU 2021-2023.
- UK lost 12,000 auto jobs since 2019 Brexit impact.
- Volvo Cars employed 38,000 in Europe 2022.
- EU auto training programs reached 200,000 participants in 2022.
- Labor productivity in EU auto up 2.1% in 2022.
- EU gigafactory jobs projected 100,000 by 2025.
Employment Data Interpretation
While Germany shoulders the engine room with over a third of the EU's direct jobs, the continent's auto industry is a 13.8-million-person juggernaut, meticulously retooling its workforce through massive R&D and training to power an electric future, though not without sputtering from Brexit losses and a persistent gender gap in the rearview mirror.
Production Statistics
- In 2022, the European Union produced 13.4 million passenger cars, marking a 6.2% decline from 2021 due to supply chain disruptions.
- Germany led EU passenger car production in 2022 with 3.6 million units, accounting for 27% of total EU output.
- Spain produced 2.2 million vehicles in 2022, including 1.8 million passenger cars, boosted by foreign investments.
- France's vehicle production reached 1.65 million units in 2022, with a focus on light commercial vehicles at 0.85 million.
- EU commercial vehicle production totaled 2.4 million units in 2022, down 9.1% from the previous year.
- In Q1 2023, EU passenger car production fell 20.7% year-on-year to 2.79 million units amid chip shortages.
- Volkswagen Group produced 4.1 million vehicles in Europe in 2022, holding 22% market share in production.
- Stellantis manufactured 2.8 million vehicles in Europe in 2022, with Italy as a key hub.
- BMW Group produced 1.18 million cars in Europe in 2022, emphasizing premium segments.
- Renault Group output in Europe was 1.6 million vehicles in 2022, down due to semiconductor issues.
- EU battery electric vehicle (BEV) production surged 40% to 1.2 million units in 2022.
- Hybrid electric vehicle production in EU rose 25% to 2.1 million units in 2022.
- Engine production in EU totaled 11.5 million units in 2022, with diesel engines at 3.2 million.
- EU passenger car production in 2021 was 14.2 million units before decline.
- Czech Republic produced 1.25 million vehicles in 2022, per capita leader.
- Slovakia's output was 1.05 million cars in 2022, 17% of GDP from auto.
- Hungary manufactured 0.44 million vehicles in 2022, growing 5%.
- Poland's commercial vehicle production up 10% to 0.55 million in 2022.
- EU powertrain production included 5.8 million petrol engines in 2022.
- Stellantis Sevel plant in Italy produced 260,000 vans in 2022.
- Ford's Cologne plant output 0.45 million vehicles in 2022.
- In 2023 H1, EU car production recovered 12% to 7.1 million units.
- BEV production in Germany alone was 0.65 million in 2022.
Production Statistics Interpretation
Despite a painful supply-chain hangover causing a 6.2% decline, Europe's auto industry was simultaneously plugging into the future, as a staggering 40% surge in electric vehicle production proved it was charging ahead even while stalling.
Sales and Registrations
- EU new car registrations reached 10.6 million units in 2022, a 2% increase from 2021.
- Germany topped new car sales in 2022 with 2.9 million registrations, 27% of EU total.
- France registered 1.9 million new cars in 2022, up 0.9% year-on-year.
- Italy's new car market grew 13% to 1.55 million units in 2022.
- Spain saw 0.94 million new car registrations in 2022, down 4.4%.
- Battery electric vehicles accounted for 11.9% of new car registrations in EU in 2022, totaling 1.26 million units.
- Plug-in hybrids (PHEV) registrations in EU reached 1.14 million in 2022, 10.7% market share.
- Volkswagen Group led EU sales with 15.7% market share in 2022, selling 1.67 million cars.
- Stellantis held 19.2% market share with 2.03 million registrations in EU 2022.
- Renault Group sales in EU were 1.36 million units in 2022, 12.8% share.
- In Q1 2023, EU new car registrations dropped 19.8% to 2.84 million units.
- BEV share in EU registrations fell to 10.7% in Q1 2023 from 12% prior year.
- EU new light commercial vehicle registrations 2.1 million in 2022.
- Netherlands led BEV market share at 29% of registrations in 2022.
- Sweden's new car sales up 6% to 0.31 million in 2022.
- Belgium registrations 0.48 million in 2022, diesel 35% share.
- Austria saw 0.32 million new cars registered in 2022.
- Tesla Model Y was top-selling car in EU 2023 with 251,000 units.
- Dacia Sandero led affordable segment with 198,000 sales in 2022.
- Toyota's hybrid sales in EU hit 0.56 million in 2022.
- In Jan 2024, EU registrations up 1.3% to 993,068 units.
Sales and Registrations Interpretation
The European auto industry is cautiously revving its engines, with Germany firmly in the driver's seat, the electric transition hitting a temporary speed bump, and the entire market nervously eyeing the rearview mirror after a jarring first-quarter drop in 2023.
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