The European automotive industry employs people across the EU—from direct vehicle manufacturing to a far larger supply chain. In 2023, passenger-car production reached 13.2 million, up 16.4% from 2022, while commercial-vehicle output rose to 2.34 million units. This page connects investment and innovation, including how battery-electric vehicle R&D shapes competitiveness, with market trends like new-car registrations down to 10.5 million in 2023.
Key Takeaways
- The EU automotive industry directly employed 1.2 million people in vehicle manufacturing in 2022
- Indirect employment in the EU auto supply chain supported 13.8 million jobs in 2022
- Germany hosted 770,000 direct auto manufacturing jobs in 2022
- In 2023, the European Union produced 13.2 million passenger cars, marking a 16.4% increase from 2022
- Germany accounted for 4.11 million passenger car productions in the EU in 2023, representing 31.1% of total EU output
- EU commercial vehicle production reached 2.34 million units in 2023, up 6.2% from the previous year
- EU automotive industry invested €44.7 billion in R&D in 2022
- Battery electric vehicles required 70% of EU auto R&D spend in 2023
- Germany invested €25 billion in auto R&D in 2022
- EU new car registrations totaled 10.5 million units in 2023, down 0.9% from 2022
- Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) achieved a market share of 14.6% of new car registrations in the EU in 2023
- Germany led with 2.86 million new car registrations in 2023
- EU auto exports reached €172 billion in 2023
- Germany exported 4.5 million vehicles worth €150 billion in 2023
- EU vehicle imports totaled €50 billion in 2023, mainly from Asia
In 2023, EU car output surged while exports rose, and R&D for electrification powered jobs and innovation.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment Data19 stats
01
The EU automotive industry directly employed 1.2 million people in vehicle manufacturing in 2022
02
Indirect employment in the EU auto supply chain supported 13.8 million jobs in 2022
03
Germany hosted 770,000 direct auto manufacturing jobs in 2022
04
EU auto R&D employed 380,000 highly skilled workers in 2022
05
France's automotive sector provided 520,000 jobs in 2022, including suppliers
06
Women represented 22% of the EU automotive workforce in 2022
07
Spain's auto industry employed 340,000 people in 2022
08
Italy had 480,000 automotive jobs in 2022
09
The UK (post-Brexit but European context) employed 162,000 in manufacturing in 2022
10
EU auto sector saw a 2.5% employment decline in vehicle assembly from 2018-2022
11
Czech Republic's auto jobs totaled 130,000 in 2022
12
Slovakia had 120,000 automotive employment positions in 2022
13
Poland employed 200,000 in auto manufacturing in 2022
14
Automotive apprenticeships in Germany numbered 45,000 in 2022
15
EU parts and components sector employed 4.8 million in 2022
16
Hungary's auto workforce was 90,000 in 2022
17
Romania employed 80,000 in automotive in 2022
18
Sweden had 100,000 auto-related jobs in 2022
19
Portugal's sector supported 70,000 jobs in 2022
Interpretation
Employment Data Interpretation
In 2022 the EU automotive industry employed 1.2 million people directly in vehicle manufacturing and supported another 13.8 million jobs through its supply chain, showing how strongly this sector drives both direct and wider employment across Europe while women made up 22% of the workforce.
02 · Category
Production Statistics22 stats
01
In 2023, the European Union produced 13.2 million passenger cars, marking a 16.4% increase from 2022
02
Germany accounted for 4.11 million passenger car productions in the EU in 2023, representing 31.1% of total EU output
03
EU commercial vehicle production reached 2.34 million units in 2023, up 6.2% from the previous year
04
Spain produced 2.44 million vehicles in 2023, making it the second-largest producer in Europe after Germany
05
In 2023, battery electric vehicle (BEV) production in the EU hit 1.66 million units, a 47.8% rise year-over-year
06
France's vehicle production totaled 1.75 million units in 2023, with a focus on light commercial vehicles
07
EU engine production for passenger cars was 12.8 million units in 2023, down slightly from 2022
08
Italy produced 790,846 passenger cars in 2023, emphasizing premium segments
09
The Czech Republic manufactured 1.38 million vehicles in 2023, largely for export
10
EU production of hybrid-electric vehicles reached 2.1 million units in 2023
11
Slovakia's automotive output was 1.02 million vehicles in 2023, per capita highest in EU
12
In Q1 2024, EU passenger car production was 3.2 million units, up 0.5% from Q1 2023
13
Hungary produced 450,000 vehicles in 2023, driven by premium brands
14
EU passenger car production capacity utilization stood at 75% in 2023
15
Poland's vehicle production reached 550,000 units in 2023, focusing on components
16
Romania manufactured 450,000 vehicles in 2023, mainly Dacia models
17
EU production of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) was 0.92 million units in 2023
18
Sweden's vehicle output was 300,000 units in 2023, led by Volvo
19
Portugal produced 350,000 vehicles in 2023, strong in commercial vans
20
EU total vehicle production (passenger + commercial) was 15.8 million in 2023
21
Belgium's production totaled 250,000 units in 2023
22
Austria manufactured 150,000 vehicles in 2023
Interpretation
Production Statistics Interpretation
In 2023, European automotive production surged with passenger cars reaching 13.2 million across the EU and BEV output climbing to 1.66 million, showing that the industry is scaling overall volumes while rapidly accelerating electrification.
03 · Category
R&d And Innovation20 stats
01
EU automotive industry invested €44.7 billion in R&D in 2022
02
Battery electric vehicles required 70% of EU auto R&D spend in 2023
03
Germany invested €25 billion in auto R&D in 2022
04
EU patented 18,000 auto-related inventions in 2022, focusing on electrification
05
France's auto R&D expenditure was €5.2 billion in 2022
06
EU hydrogen fuel cell patents rose 25% in 2022 to 1,200
07
Autonomous driving tech accounted for 15% of EU auto patents in 2022
08
Spain invested €1.8 billion in auto R&D in 2022
09
EU software-defined vehicle R&D spend hit €10 billion in 2023 estimates
10
Italy's R&D in autos was €4.1 billion in 2022
11
EU battery production capacity targeted 1,000 GWh by 2030 via IPCEI projects
12
Connected car patents in EU grew 18% to 2,500 in 2022
13
Czech R&D spend in autos was €0.8 billion in 2022
14
EU invested €2.5 billion in Horizon Europe auto projects 2021-2023
15
Slovakia's auto R&D was €0.5 billion in 2022
16
Poland allocated €1.2 billion to auto innovation in 2022
17
EU ADAS patents numbered 3,200 in 2022, up 12%
18
Hungary invested €0.4 billion in R&D autos 2022
19
Romania's auto R&D was €0.3 billion in 2022
20
Sweden spent €2.8 billion on auto R&D in 2022
Interpretation
R&d And Innovation Interpretation
In the R&D and innovation race, the EU’s €44.7 billion auto R&D spend in 2022 has increasingly concentrated on electrification, with battery electric vehicles using 70% of auto R&D in 2023, Germany contributing €25 billion and France €5.2 billion while EU auto-related patenting reached 18,000 inventions in 2022.
More related reading
04 · Category
Sales And Registrations29 stats
01
EU new car registrations totaled 10.5 million units in 2023, down 0.9% from 2022
02
Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) achieved a market share of 14.6% of new car registrations in the EU in 2023
03
Germany led with 2.86 million new car registrations in 2023
04
Hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) reached 26.1% market share in EU new car sales in 2023
05
France registered 1.84 million new passenger cars in 2023
06
Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) had a 7.7% share of EU new car market in 2023
07
Italy saw 1.55 million new car registrations in 2023, up 4.3%
08
Spain registered 1.08 million new cars in 2023, a 13% increase
09
EU new light commercial vehicle registrations were 1.9 million in 2023, down 3.2%
10
Netherlands had 13.6% BEV share in new car registrations in 2023, highest in EU
11
In Q1 2024, EU new car registrations rose 2.3% to 3.2 million units
12
Belgium registered 500,000 new cars in 2023
13
Petrol cars held 36.4% market share in EU registrations in 2023
14
Sweden's new car sales reached 300,000 in 2023, with high EV adoption
15
Diesel registrations fell to 11.5% share in EU in 2023
16
Poland saw 450,000 new car registrations in 2023
17
EU fleet registrations (company cars) were 2.5 million in 2023
18
Austria registered 350,000 new cars in 2023
19
Portugal's new car sales totaled 200,000 in 2023, up 15%
20
EU private registrations accounted for 57.8% of total new car sales in 2023
21
Czech Republic had 250,000 new registrations in 2023
22
Hungary registered 150,000 new cars in 2023
23
Romania saw 100,000 new car sales in 2023
24
14.6% of EU new-car registrations in 2023 were BEVs
25
26.1% of EU new-car registrations in 2023 were HEVs
26
7.7% of EU new-car registrations in 2023 were PHEVs
27
52.6% of EU new-car registrations in 2023 were ICE (non-electrified)
28
BEVs+PHEVs (plug-in) accounted for 22.3% of EU new-car registrations in 2023
29
Electrified vehicles (BEV+HEV+PHEV) accounted for 48.4% of EU new-car registrations in 2023
Interpretation
Sales And Registrations Interpretation
In the sales and registrations data for 2023, EU new car registrations totaled 10.5 million units, and despite a 0.9% dip, electrified powertrains expanded as BEVs reached 14.6% and HEVs 26.1% of new car sales.
report visual · Comparison
EU powertrain mix (2023): electrification share vs ICE
In 2023, electrified vehicles (BEV+HEV+PHEV) led EU new-car registrations with 48.4%, ahead of ICE (non-electrified) at 52.6%, indicating ICE still holds the largest single share a
52.6% of EU new-car registrations in 2023 were ICE (non-electrified)52.6%
Electrified vehicles (BEV+HEV+PHEV) accounted for 48.4% of EU new-car registrations in 202348.4%
14.6% of EU new-car registrations in 2023 were BEVs14.6%
source-verifiedacea.auto2023
05 · Category
Trade And Exports21 stats
01
EU auto exports reached €172 billion in 2023
02
Germany exported 4.5 million vehicles worth €150 billion in 2023
03
EU vehicle imports totaled €50 billion in 2023, mainly from Asia
04
EU passenger car trade surplus was €125 billion in 2023
05
France exported €25 billion in vehicles in 2023
06
Top EU export market for cars was US with €45 billion in 2023
07
Spain's vehicle exports hit €30 billion in 2023
08
China overtook US as largest EU car import origin with €20 billion in 2023
09
Italy exported €22 billion in autos in 2023
10
EU commercial vehicle exports were €28 billion in 2023
11
UK imported €15 billion in EU cars post-Brexit in 2023
12
Czech Republic exported 95% of its 1.38 million vehicle production in 2023
13
Slovakia's exports reached €20 billion in vehicles 2023
14
Poland exported €12 billion in autos in 2023
15
EU parts exports were €120 billion in 2023
16
Hungary exported 90% of production, €10 billion value in 2023
17
Romania's vehicle exports totaled €8 billion in 2023
18
Sweden exported €15 billion in premium vehicles 2023
19
Portugal's exports were €6 billion in 2023
20
EU trade balance for auto parts was €45 billion surplus in 2023
21
Belgium exported €5 billion in vehicles 2023
Interpretation
Trade And Exports Interpretation
In 2023, Europe’s automotive trade delivered a strong €125 billion passenger car surplus as EU auto exports hit €172 billion, showing how export strength and large external sourcing, with €50 billion of imports mainly from Asia, shape the region’s trade balance.
Reference
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APA
Elena Vasquez. (2026, February 13). European Automotive Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/european-automotive-industry-statistics
MLA
Elena Vasquez. "European Automotive Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/european-automotive-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Elena Vasquez. 2026. "European Automotive Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/european-automotive-industry-statistics.