April 2019: Car sales increased in Brazil and Japan but were lower in Europe, the USA, Russia and much weaker in India and China.
January to April 2019: new passenger vehicle registrations were lower thus far this year in all major car markets in the world with the exception of Brazil. During the first four months of the year, new car sales in Japan and Russia were down by around a percentage point while the European and US markets shrunk by more than two percent. The Indian new car market contracted by 6% while the Chinese market weakened by 15%.
Worldwide Car Sales in 2019 (April)
New light and passenger vehicle registrations in various major car markets around the world monitored by the VDA were as follows in April and the first four months of 2019:
| Region | April 2019 | % Change | 1-4/2019 | % Change |
| Europe (EU+EFTA) | 1,344,900 | -0.5 | 5,491,100 | -2.5 |
| Russia* | 148,300 | -2.7 | 539,900 | -1.0 |
| USA* | 1,330,600 | -1.7 | 5,323,300 | -2.2 |
| Japan | 315,000 | 3.3 | 1,591,300 | -1.1 |
| Brazil* | 221,700 | 5.5 | 803,200 | 8.8 |
| India | 247,500 | -17.1 | 1,091,800 | -5.9 |
| China | 1,500,000 | -18.0 | 6,700,000 | -15.0 |
| *Light vehicles | ||||
| Source: VDA |
Stronger Car Sales in Brazil in 2019 (April)
Despite signs of weakness in the Brazilian economy, light vehicle registrations in April 2019 increased by 5.5% to 221,700 cars.
During the first four months of 2019, the Brazilian new light vehicle market expanded by a stronger 8.8% to 803,200 cars. Brazil was the only major new vehicle market to have expanded during the first four months this year.
Stronger Car Sales in Japan in 2019 (April)
New passenger vehicle registrations in Japan increased by 3.3% to 315,000 cars in April 2019. Japan and Brazil were the only large countries with higher car sales in April 2019.
Thus far in 2019, the Japanese new car market contracted by a moderate 1.1% to 1,5891,300 cars.
Flat Car Sales in Europe in April 2019
New passenger vehicle registrations in the European Union (EU) and EFTA were flat in April 2019 – 1,344,900 cars or 0.5% lower than a year ago. The German market contracted by 1% while the UK market was down by 4%. Car sales in France were unchanged while the Italian market grew by 1% and the Spanish car market expanded by 3%.
However, thus far in 2019, the European new car market contracted by a stronger 2.5% to just less than 5.5 million cars.
Weaker Car Sales in Russia in 2019 (April)
Light vehicle sales in Russia fell by 2.7% in April 2019 to 148,300 cars. During the first four months of 2019, vehicle sales in Russia were down by 1% – after Brazil the strongest performance of any major car market in the world.
Weaker Car Sales in the USA in 2019 (April)
In April 2019, light vehicle registrations in the USA contracted by 1.7% to 1,330,600 vehicles. As before, traditional passenger car sales contracted by 8% while light truck (including SUVs) sales were up by a percentage point.
Thus far in 2019, the US new car market shrunk by 2.2% to 5,323,300 cars – only moderately smaller than the European new car market but almost 1.5 million smaller than the Chinese car market.
Very Weak Car Sales in India in 2019 (April)
In April 2019, the Indian new car market shrunk by 17.1% to 247,500 cars – the sixth consecutive month of contraction in India. Car sales in India are traditionally weaker during the election season that could drag on into May and still influence the market during the middle of the year.
During the period January to April 2019, the Indian new car market shrunk by nearly 6% to just over a million cars.
Very Weak Car Sales in China in 2019 (April)
The contraction in the Chinese new car market strengthened in April 2019 when new car sales were down by 18% to around 1.5 million cars.
Thus far in 2019, new passenger vehicle registrations in China contracted by 15% to 6.7 million cars. However, the Chinese new car market remained by far the largest single car market in the world.
Worldwide New Car Sales Statistics
- 2019 – January, February, March (Q1), April, May, Half Year, Latest
- 2018 – Full Year
