While global vehicle production dipped to 85.3 million units in 2022, a minor 6.2% decline, the industry roared back stronger in 2023, revealing fascinating shifts in market dominance, electric vehicle adoption, and economic impact that paint a picture of an industry in rapid transition.
Key Takeaways
- Global motor vehicle production reached 85.3 million units in 2022, down 6.2% from 2021.
- China produced 27.0 million vehicles in 2022, accounting for 31.6% of global production.
- The United States manufactured 10.6 million vehicles in 2022.
- Global light vehicle sales reached 89.6 million units in 2023.
- China led with 30.1 million vehicle sales in 2023.
- US light vehicle sales were 15.5 million units in 2023.
- Global EV sales surged to 14.0 million units in 2023, 18% of total sales.
- China dominated EV sales with 8.1 million units in 2023.
- Europe EV sales reached 2.4 million passenger cars in 2023.
- Global automotive market revenue was $3.2 trillion in 2023.
- Average vehicle transaction price in US reached $48,759 in 2023.
- Global auto industry profit margin averaged 6.2% in 2023.
- US automotive industry employed 1.0 million directly in manufacturing in 2023.
- Global auto sector jobs totaled 14 million in manufacturing in 2023.
- China automotive workforce exceeded 5 million in 2023.
Global vehicle production fell in 2022 but began a strong recovery the next year.
Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
- Global EV sales surged to 14.0 million units in 2023, 18% of total sales.
- China dominated EV sales with 8.1 million units in 2023.
- Europe EV sales reached 2.4 million passenger cars in 2023.
- US EV sales hit 1.2 million units in 2023.
- Tesla sold 1.8 million EVs globally in 2023.
- BYD overtook Tesla with 3.0 million NEV sales in 2023.
- Global BEV sales were 9.5 million units in 2023.
- PHEV sales totaled 4.5 million worldwide in 2023.
- EV market share in Norway reached 89% of new car sales in 2023.
- Battery capacity deployed for EVs globally was 700 GWh in 2023.
- China EV production capacity exceeded 10 million units annually by end-2023.
- Europe EV registrations grew 37% YoY to 2.6 million in 2023 including all types.
- Global public EV chargers numbered 4 million by end-2023.
- Fast chargers (>22kW) were 1.4 million globally in 2023.
- Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles sold 15,000 units globally in 2023.
- EV battery prices fell to $139/kWh in 2023.
- LFP batteries captured 41% of global EV battery market in 2023.
Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Interpretation
The world is increasingly swapping gasoline for electrons, with China leading the charge so emphatically that even Tesla's rearview mirror is now filled by BYD, proving that the race to electrify is less of a gentle cruise and more of a high-stakes, battery-powered demolition derby.
Market and Financial Metrics
- Global automotive market revenue was $3.2 trillion in 2023.
- Average vehicle transaction price in US reached $48,759 in 2023.
- Global auto industry profit margin averaged 6.2% in 2023.
- Toyota Motor revenue hit $275 billion in FY2023.
- Volkswagen Group revenue was €322.3 billion in 2023.
- Ford Motor net income was $4.3 billion in 2023.
- GM revenue reached $171.8 billion in 2023.
- Tesla revenue grew to $96.8 billion in 2023.
- Global R&D spending by auto industry was $140 billion in 2023.
- US auto retail sales value hit $1.05 trillion in 2023.
- China auto market revenue exceeded $600 billion in 2023.
- European OEM EBIT margin averaged 7.1% in 2023.
- Global used car market size was $1.5 trillion in 2023.
- Auto parts market revenue reached $500 billion globally in 2023.
- Mobility-as-a-Service market valued at $100 billion in 2023.
- Global automotive semiconductors market hit $60 billion in 2023.
Market and Financial Metrics Interpretation
The global car industry is a three-trillion-dollar goliath where every vehicle sold is a fifty-thousand-dollar bet that hinges on a razor-thin six percent profit, a high-stakes game funding a relentless race for the next chip, battery, or subscription service that will define the road ahead.
Production and Output
- Global motor vehicle production reached 85.3 million units in 2022, down 6.2% from 2021.
- China produced 27.0 million vehicles in 2022, accounting for 31.6% of global production.
- The United States manufactured 10.6 million vehicles in 2022.
- Japan produced 7.8 million vehicles in 2022.
- Germany's vehicle production was 4.1 million units in 2022.
- India ranked 3rd globally with 5.5 million vehicles produced in 2022.
- South Korea produced 3.9 million vehicles in 2022.
- Mexico's vehicle output hit 3.9 million units in 2022.
- Brazil produced 2.4 million vehicles in 2022.
- Spain manufactured 2.2 million vehicles in 2022.
- Thailand's production was 1.8 million units in 2022.
- Indonesia produced 1.4 million vehicles in 2022.
- France output 1.7 million vehicles in 2022.
- United Kingdom produced 0.8 million vehicles in 2022.
- Canada's vehicle production was 1.5 million units in 2022.
- Russia's production dropped to 0.7 million vehicles in 2022.
- Turkey produced 1.3 million vehicles in 2022.
- Czech Republic output 1.2 million units in 2022.
- Slovakia produced 1.0 million vehicles in 2022.
- Argentina's production was 0.5 million units in 2022.
- Global passenger car production was 66.5 million units in 2022.
- Commercial vehicle production totaled 18.8 million units worldwide in 2022.
- Light commercial vehicles accounted for 12.5 million units in global production 2022.
- Heavy trucks production was 4.2 million units globally in 2022.
- Buses production reached 0.4 million units worldwide in 2022.
- Global vehicle production in 2023 recovered to 93.5 million units.
- Toyota Group produced 10.5 million vehicles in 2022, leading manufacturers.
- Volkswagen Group output was 8.3 million units in 2022.
- Hyundai-Kia produced 7.3 million vehicles in 2022.
- Stellantis manufactured 6.0 million units in 2022.
- Global vehicle production reached 85.3 million units in 2022, down 6.2% from 2021.
- China produced 27.0 million vehicles in 2022, accounting for 31.6% of global production.
- The United States manufactured 10.6 million vehicles in 2022.
- Japan produced 7.8 million vehicles in 2022.
- Germany's vehicle production was 4.1 million units in 2022.
- India ranked 3rd globally with 5.5 million vehicles produced in 2022.
Production and Output Interpretation
The auto industry's global picture in 2022 was one where China decisively drove the bus, producing nearly a third of the world's vehicles, while the rest of the world largely rode shotgun through a 6.2% production dip.
Sales and Registrations
- Global light vehicle sales reached 89.6 million units in 2023.
- China led with 30.1 million vehicle sales in 2023.
- US light vehicle sales were 15.5 million units in 2023.
- Europe total vehicle sales hit 13.0 million units in 2023.
- Japan sold 4.4 million vehicles domestically in 2023.
- India's passenger vehicle sales reached 4.1 million units in FY2023.
- Brazil vehicle sales totaled 2.6 million units in 2023.
- Germany's new car registrations were 2.9 million in 2023.
- France registered 1.9 million passenger cars in 2023.
- UK new car sales reached 1.9 million units in 2023.
- South Korea sold 1.7 million vehicles in 2023.
- Canada light vehicle sales were 1.6 million in 2023.
- Australia's new vehicle sales hit 1.2 million units in 2023.
- Mexico sold 1.4 million light vehicles in 2023.
- Russia vehicle sales dropped to 0.9 million in 2023.
- Spain registered 1.1 million new cars in 2023.
- Italy new car sales were 1.5 million units in 2023.
- Turkey vehicle sales reached 1.2 million in 2023.
- Passenger cars accounted for 75% of global sales in 2023.
- SUVs and crossovers made up 48% of US sales in 2023.
- Pickup trucks represented 20% of US light vehicle sales in 2023.
- Toyota was the top-selling brand globally with 10.3 million units in 2023.
- Volkswagen Group sold 9.2 million vehicles worldwide in 2023.
Sales and Registrations Interpretation
While the world's car keys jingle to many tunes, China's orchestra is now playing so loudly it practically drowns out the combined efforts of the US and Europe, proving that in the global auto race, it's not just about the horsepower but also about who holds the most buyers.
Workforce, Safety, and Trends
- US automotive industry employed 1.0 million directly in manufacturing in 2023.
- Global auto sector jobs totaled 14 million in manufacturing in 2023.
- China automotive workforce exceeded 5 million in 2023.
- US auto dealers employed 1.1 million people in 2023.
- Germany auto industry had 830,000 employees in 2023.
- Global road traffic deaths reached 1.19 million in 2023.
- US vehicle crash fatalities were 40,990 in 2022 (latest full data).
- Autonomous vehicle testing miles in US hit 50 million by 2023.
- Average vehicle age in US reached 12.5 years in 2023.
- Global CO2 emissions from road vehicles were 7 Gt in 2023.
- 95% of US vehicles on road had airbags in 2023.
- Ride-hailing market grew to 15 billion trips globally in 2023.
- Car-sharing users worldwide numbered 200 million in 2023.
- Software-defined vehicles expected to be 50% of sales by 2030.
Workforce, Safety, and Trends Interpretation
The automotive industry, while employing tens of millions to build increasingly sophisticated and safer cars, remains a global paradox where technological progress races alongside stubbornly high emissions, fatal crashes, and aging fleets.
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