Europe’s car industry doesn’t just move people, it moves balance sheets and jobs. EU exports of vehicles hit €133 billion in 2022 while the EU remains €20 billion in the red on auto trade with China, showing how global links are reshaping who wins and who pays. From turnover and R and D to production shifts and workforce details across Germany, Spain, and beyond, the figures reveal a sector that is growing in complexity faster than it is growing in certainty.
Key Takeaways
- EU exports of vehicles reached €133 billion in 2022.
- Germany's auto exports: €147 billion in 2022.
- EU auto trade surplus: €88 billion in 2022.
- EU automotive industry employed 13.8 million people directly and indirectly in 2022.
- Germany had 866,000 direct automotive jobs in 2022.
- France automotive sector employed 570,000 workers in 2021.
- In 2022, the European Union produced 13,166,830 passenger cars, a 6.4% decrease from 2021 due to supply chain disruptions.
- Germany led EU passenger car production with 4,124,000 units in 2022, accounting for 31% of total EU output.
- France produced 1,668,000 passenger cars in 2022, ranking second in the EU.
- EU R&D expenditure by auto sector reached €65 billion in 2022.
- Germany invested €38 billion in automotive R&D in 2022.
- Volkswagen Group R&D spend: €18.2 billion globally, €12B in Europe 2022.
- New passenger car registrations in the EU reached 10.5 million units in 2022, down 10.9% from 2021.
- Germany topped EU car sales with 2.82 million registrations in 2022.
- BEV sales in EU surged to 1.64 million units in 2022, 15.4% market share.
In 2022, Europe’s auto industry powered major exports and jobs while accelerating the shift to cleaner cars.
Related reading
01 · Category
Economics25 stats
01
EU exports of vehicles reached €133 billion in 2022.
02
Germany's auto exports: €147 billion in 2022.
03
EU auto trade surplus: €88 billion in 2022.
04
France vehicle exports: €39 billion in 2022.
05
Automotive sector contributed 7% to EU manufacturing value added in 2022.
06
Spain auto exports: €30.5 billion in 2022.
07
EU car industry turnover: €800 billion in 2022.
08
Italy automotive exports: €47 billion 2022.
09
UK auto exports: £43 billion in 2022.
10
Germany auto trade surplus: €50 billion in 2022.
11
EU imports of vehicles: €45 billion in 2022.
12
Czech auto exports: €20 billion in 2022.
13
Automotive taxes in EU: €500 billion annually pre-2022.
14
Slovakia vehicle exports: €15.5 billion 2022.
15
Poland auto trade surplus: €12 billion in 2022.
16
EU parts and components exports: €120 billion 2022.
17
Hungary exports: €12 billion autos 2022.
18
Romania vehicle exports: €10 billion in 2022.
19
Auto sector GDP contribution in EU: 4.5% indirect in 2022.
20
Sweden exports: €14 billion vehicles 2022.
21
Belgium auto exports: €8 billion 2022.
22
EU-China auto trade deficit: €20 billion in 2022.
23
Portugal exports: €2.5 billion autos 2022.
24
Austria vehicle exports: €6 billion 2022.
25
EU auto investment needs: €600 billion by 2030 for transition.
Interpretation
Economics Interpretation
It appears Germany has single-handedly driven Europe to a massive auto trade surplus, proving that while the continent's engine is powerful, it's dangerously dependent on one very efficient cylinder.
02 · Category
Employment24 stats
01
EU automotive industry employed 13.8 million people directly and indirectly in 2022.
02
Germany had 866,000 direct automotive jobs in 2022.
03
France automotive sector employed 570,000 workers in 2021.
04
EU carmakers directly employed 1.3 million in manufacturing in 2022.
05
Spain's auto industry provided 135,000 direct jobs in 2022.
06
Italy had 510,000 automotive jobs including supply chain in 2022.
07
Automotive R&D employment in EU: 410,000 full-time equivalents in 2022.
08
Czech Republic auto sector jobs: 130,000 direct in 2022.
09
Slovakia employed 120,000 in automotive manufacturing in 2022.
10
UK automotive employment: 183,000 direct jobs in 2022.
11
Poland's auto industry had 200,000 jobs in 2022.
12
Women represent 22% of EU automotive workforce in 2022.
13
Hungary automotive jobs: 95,000 direct in 2022.
14
Belgium employed 28,000 in car manufacturing 2022.
15
Automotive apprenticeships in Germany: 58,000 new starts in 2022.
16
Sweden Volvo Cars employed 38,000 in Europe 2022.
17
Romania auto jobs: 55,000 direct in 2022.
18
Average hourly labor cost in EU auto sector: €32.5 in 2021.
19
Portugal automotive employment: 45,000 in 2022.
20
Austria had 18,000 direct auto manufacturing jobs 2022.
21
Netherlands auto supplier jobs: 25,000 in 2022.
22
Finland's Valmet Automotive employed 1,500 in 2022.
23
EU auto industry turnover supported 6.2 million indirect jobs in 2022.
24
Greece automotive jobs totaled 12,000 in 2022.
Interpretation
Employment Interpretation
While Germany is the undeniable engine room, France, Italy, and Spain are vital pistons, and the entire European continent is greased together by a vast 13.8-million-person workforce that proves the car industry remains the continent's indispensable economic drivetrain.
03 · Category
Production30 stats
01
In 2022, the European Union produced 13,166,830 passenger cars, a 6.4% decrease from 2021 due to supply chain disruptions.
02
Germany led EU passenger car production with 4,124,000 units in 2022, accounting for 31% of total EU output.
03
France produced 1,668,000 passenger cars in 2022, ranking second in the EU.
04
EU commercial vehicle production totaled 2,740,000 units in 2022, down 12% from the previous year.
05
Spain manufactured 2,306,000 vehicles in 2022, including 1,934,000 passenger cars.
06
In Q1 2023, EU passenger car production fell to 2.75 million units, a 4.5% drop year-on-year.
07
Volkswagen Group produced 4.1 million cars in Europe in 2022.
08
Stellantis output in Europe reached 2.8 million vehicles in 2022.
09
EU engine production stood at 12.5 million units in 2022, primarily for passenger cars.
10
Italy's passenger car production was 794,000 units in 2022, up 10% from 2021.
11
In 2023, EU battery electric vehicle (BEV) production hit 1.4 million units, 25% of total PC production.
12
Renault Group produced 1.65 million vehicles in Europe in 2022.
13
Czech Republic produced 1.28 million vehicles in 2022, mostly for export.
14
EU gearbox production reached 18.2 million units in 2022.
15
Slovakia manufactured 1.02 million cars in 2022, per capita leader in EU.
16
In 2021, EU total vehicle production was 15.3 million units.
17
BMW Group Europe production was 1.9 million units in 2022.
18
Hungary's vehicle output totaled 469,000 units in 2022.
19
EU light commercial vehicle production was 1.7 million in 2022.
20
Mercedes-Benz Cars produced 1.4 million in Europe in 2022.
21
Poland produced 452,000 vehicles in 2022, focusing on buses and vans.
22
In H1 2023, EU PC production rose 18% to 5.6 million units.
23
Ford Europe production was 1.1 million vehicles in 2022.
24
Sweden's Volvo Cars output was 334,000 in Europe 2022.
25
Romania produced 433,000 vehicles in 2022.
26
EU heavy truck production was 342,000 units in 2022.
27
Porsche produced 245,000 cars in Europe in 2022.
28
Belgium manufactured 248,000 vehicles in 2022.
29
Austria's production totaled 142,000 cars in 2022.
30
In 2020, EU PC production dropped to 9.9 million due to COVID-19.
Interpretation
Production Interpretation
Europe’s car industry spent 2022 navigating supply chain potholes—Germany carried nearly a third of the load on its back, the electric shift quietly accelerated, and everyone was just relieved it wasn’t another 2020.
More related reading
04 · Category
R&D24 stats
01
EU R&D expenditure by auto sector reached €65 billion in 2022.
02
Germany invested €38 billion in automotive R&D in 2022.
03
Volkswagen Group R&D spend: €18.2 billion globally, €12B in Europe 2022.
04
EU patents in automotive tech: 45,000 filed in 2022.
05
France auto R&D investment: €7.5 billion in 2022.
06
Battery R&D projects in EU Horizon Europe: €5.2 billion allocated 2021-2027.
07
Stellantis R&D expenditure: €6.3 billion in 2022.
08
EU autonomous driving patents: 12,500 in 2022.
09
BMW Group R&D: €6.1 billion spent in 2022.
10
Hydrogen fuel cell R&D funding in EU: €470 million in 2022.
11
Mercedes-Benz R&D investment: €7.9 billion in 2022.
12
EU software-defined vehicle R&D collaborations: 150 projects in 2022.
13
Renault R&D spend: €2.5 billion in 2022.
14
Connected car tech patents from EU: 8,200 in 2022.
15
Ford Europe R&D: €1.8 billion in 2022.
16
EU chip design for autos: €2.1 billion public funding 2022.
17
Volvo Cars R&D: €2.4 billion in 2022.
18
ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) R&D spend EU: €10 billion 2022.
19
Porsche R&D investment: €3.1 billion in 2022.
20
EU gigafactory R&D projects: 25 operational by 2023.
21
Spain auto R&D: €1.2 billion in 2022.
22
Italy R&D in autos: €4.8 billion 2022.
23
EU cybersecurity for vehicles R&D: €800 million 2022.
24
Horizon Europe auto grants: €1.5 billion in 2022.
Interpretation
R&D Interpretation
Europe’s car industry is pouring a fortune—principally Germany’s, with Volkswagen acting as its turbocharged wallet—into a high-stakes tech race, betting that its colossal R&D spend on everything from batteries to self-driving software will secure its pole position for the future.
05 · Category
Sales27 stats
01
New passenger car registrations in the EU reached 10.5 million units in 2022, down 10.9% from 2021.
02
Germany topped EU car sales with 2.82 million registrations in 2022.
03
BEV sales in EU surged to 1.64 million units in 2022, 15.4% market share.
04
France registered 1.91 million new PCs in 2022.
05
Volkswagen Group held 26.5% market share in EU PC sales 2022.
06
In Q1 2023, EU PC registrations grew 4.5% to 2.63 million.
07
Italy saw 1.35 million new car sales in 2022.
08
PHEV registrations in EU: 1.03 million in 2022, 9.7% share.
09
Stellantis captured 19.8% EU market share in 2022 PC sales.
10
Spain's new car registrations totaled 703,000 in 2022.
11
SUV segment dominated EU sales with 53% share in 2022.
12
Renault Group sales in EU: 1.37 million PCs in 2022.
13
Netherlands PC registrations: 437,000 in 2022.
14
Battery electric cars achieved 14.6% share in Germany 2022 sales.
15
BMW Group EU sales: 1.52 million units in 2022.
16
Belgium new car sales: 413,000 in 2022.
17
Diesel PC share fell to 11.7% in EU 2022.
18
Mercedes-Benz sales in EU: 1.07 million PCs 2022.
19
Sweden registrations: 280,000 new PCs in 2022.
20
Ford EU PC sales: 802,000 units in 2022.
21
Austria sales: 308,000 new cars in 2022.
22
Plug-in hybrid share reached 14.3% in Norway 2022.
23
Volvo Cars EU sales: 485,000 units in 2022.
24
Poland registrations: 390,000 PCs in 2022.
25
Petrol cars held 45.2% EU market share in 2022.
26
Porsche EU sales: 208,000 units in 2022.
27
Denmark new car sales: 165,000 in 2022.
Interpretation
Sales Interpretation
The European car market is caught in a classic tug-of-war, with overall sales stubbornly retreating as electric vehicles decisively surge forward, showing the industry's future is being rewired even as its present cools.
06 · Category
Sustainability22 stats
01
CO2 emissions from new EU PCs averaged 108.6 g/km in 2022.
02
EU fleet average CO2: targeted 93.6 g/km by 2025 for PCs.
03
100% zero-emission new car sales mandate in EU by 2035.
04
EU recycled materials in vehicles: 25% average in 2022.
05
BEV CO2 savings: 65% lifecycle vs ICE in EU grid 2022.
06
EU tyre labelling: A-rated tyres 15% of market in 2022.
07
Water usage in EU auto production: 3.5 m³ per vehicle 2022.
08
EU battery recycling rate target: 95% by 2030.
09
NOx emissions from EU vans down 75% since 2011 standards.
10
42% of EU electricity for EVs from renewables in 2022.
11
EU end-of-life vehicle recycling rate: 95.5% in 2021.
12
Synthetic fuel investments for sustainability: €2 billion EU 2022.
13
PM emissions reduction: 90% for Euro 6 vs Euro 0 cars.
14
EU green steel for autos: 5% usage target by 2030.
15
Biofuel blending in EU diesel: 7.5% mandate 2022.
16
EV charging points in EU: 630,000 public in 2022.
17
Lifecycle GHG for EU BEVs: 60-70% lower than ICE 2022.
18
EU corporate fleet electrification: 10% BEV/PHEV in 2022.
19
Noise emissions standards met by 98% new PCs 2022.
20
Critical raw materials recycling in batteries: 16% cobalt 2022.
21
EU H2 refuelling stations: 198 operational in 2022.
22
Scope 3 emissions reporting by EU OEMs: 70% coverage 2022.
Interpretation
Sustainability Interpretation
The European car industry is a study in ambitious contradictions, diligently recycling its past while still belching out more carbon than it should, all while racing to wire itself into a greener future that is both impressively mapped and frustratingly far from the finish line.
Reference
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APA
Karl Becker. (2026, February 13). Europe Car Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/europe-car-industry-statistics
MLA
Karl Becker. "Europe Car Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/europe-car-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Karl Becker. 2026. "Europe Car Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/europe-car-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
76 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level