September 2017: New car sales increased strongly in Brazil, Russia and India with solid growth in the USA, Japan and China. European sales were weaker.
In September 2017, new passenger vehicle registrations increased by a quarter in Brazil while sales in India were up by 11% to set a new monthly record of 310,000 cars. The Russian light vehicle market also continued its recovery with sales up 18%. Car sales in the USA increased for the first time this year while growth continued in Japan and China. The European Union saw a contraction in car sales in September 2017. New passenger registrations over the full first three quarters of 2017 were positive in all major car markets except in the USA.
Car Sales Worldwide in 2017 (January to September)
New light vehicle registrations in various regions of the world monitored by the VDA were as follows in September 2017 and the first three quarters of 2017:
| Region | Sep 2017 | % Change | Jan-Sep 2017 | % Change |
| Europe (EU+EFTA) | 1,466,300 | -2.0 | 12,026,100 | 3.6 |
| Russia* | 148,400 | 17.9 | 1,129,400 | 10.6 |
| USA* | 1,515,800 | 6.0 | 12,801,200 | -1.9 |
| Japan | 417,900 | 5.3 | 3,412,600 | 8.1 |
| Brazil* | 193,800 | 25.0 | 1,576,100 | 7.9 |
| India | 310,000 | 11.3 | 2,434,100 | 9.8 |
| China | 2,297,900 | 3.5 | 16,731,300 | 3.3 |
| *Light vehicles | ||||
| Source: VDA |
Brazil – Strong Recovery in Car Sales in September 2017
The Brazilian new car market expanded for the fifth consecutive month in September 2017 when registrations of new light vehicles increased by a quarter to 193,800 cars. This was the strongest improvement thus far this year, although September figures are traditionally relatively low.
During the first three quarters of 2017, the Brazilian new car market grew by 7.9% to 1,576,100 vehicles. After several years of recession, the growth potential of the Brazilian new car market is extensive.
Russia – Continued Recovery in the Car Market in September 2017
The Russian new car market expanded for the seventh consecutive month in September 2017. Car sales increased by 18% to 148,400 vehicles. Thus far in 2017 the Russian new car market grew by 10.6% – no other major car market performed better.
India – Record Car Sales in September 2017
Car sales in India grew by 11.3% in September to 310,000 vehicles – the highest number of cars sold in India ever in a single calendar month.
Except for June, the Indian new car market expanded every month thus far in 2017 with sales up 9.8% to 2,434,100 cars sold during the first three quarters of 2017.
USA – Stronger Car Sales in September 2017
After contracting for eight consecutive months, the US new light vehicle market expanded for the first time in 2017 in September when sales increased by 6% to 1,515,800 vehicles. The VDA considered the need for replacement vehicles after the damage done by hurricanes as a major contribution to the increase in car sales.
Year-to-date 2017, the US light vehicle market remained negative with sales down 1.9% to 12,801,200 vehicles. During the first three quarters of 2017, sales of traditional cars in the USA contracted by 11% to 4.7 million cars while SUV sales increased by 4% to 8.1 million vehicles.
Japan – Continued Car Sales Growth in September 2017
New passenger vehicle registrations in Japan increased for the eleventh consecutive month in September 2017 when sales were up 5.3% to 417,900 cars. During the first nine months of 2017, the Japanese new car market grew even faster by 8.1% to 3,412,600 cars.
China – Still the World Largest Car Market in September 2017
The Chinese new car market grew by 3.5% to 2,297,900 cars in September 2017. This was the fourth consecutive month of growth in by far the largest single-country market in the world.
During the first three quarters of 2017, car sales in China increased by 3.3% to 16,731,300 cars. German luxury car brands took a disproportionate share of the growing Chinese car market.
Europe – Weaker Car Sales in September 2017
New passenger vehicle registrations in the European Union (EU) and EFTA countries were down 2% to 1,466,300 cars in September 2017. This contraction was largely due to a slowdown in car sales in the two largest car markets in Europe: Germany (-3.3%) and the UK (-9.3%). The contraction in Britain was particularly worrying to the industry as September is traditionally the second strongest month for car sales in the UK.
Year-to-date 2017, car sales in the EU and EFTA increased by a solid 3.6% to 12,026,100 cars.
