2020 (January to September) International: Global Worldwide Car Sales

September 2020: car sales increased in China, Europe, and the USA but during the first three quarters of 2020 all major global markets worldwide were lower.

2020 (January to September) International: Global Worldwide Car Sales

In September 2020, for the first time in more than three years, the world’s three largest new car markets — China, the USA, and Europe — registered increases in car sales in the same month. However, during the first three quarters of 2020, the effects of the Covid-19 virus dominated all markets international with sales sharply down. 2020 (Q1-Q3): China was performing best with sales down 12.5%, while the US and Japanese markets contracted 18%, and the European and Brazilian markets down nearly a third.

Worldwide Car Sales 2020: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, Full Year

Global Worldwide Car Sales in 2020 (Jan to September)

According to global car sales data released by the VDA for major international car markets, new car sales were as follows in September 2020 and the first three quarters of 2020:

RegionSep 2020% Change1-9/2020% Change
Europe**1,300,0001.18,567,900-29.3
USA*1,344,3006.110,312,700-18.8
Japan390,800-14.82,817,900-18.1
Brazil*199,200-11.11,301,700-32.9
China2,050,0007.713,112,400-12.5
*Light vehicles
**(EU+EFTA+UK)
Source: VDA

Europe — Increased Car Sales in September 2020

In September 2020, new passenger vehicle registrations in Europe (the European Union, UK, and EFTA) increased by 1% to 1.3 million cars. However, it should be kept in mind that registrations were exceptionally low in September 2019 when carmakers were unable to supply WLTP compliant vehicles. In Italy, car sales increased by 10% and in Germany by 8%. However, the French new car market contracted by 3%, Great Britain by 4%, and Spain by 13%.

During the first three quarters of 2020, the European new car market contracted by 29.3% to 8,567,920 cars — more than 3.5 million fewer than the 12,117,401 registered during the corresponding months in 2019.

USA — Car Sales Increased in September 2020

Light vehicle registrations (cars, light trucks, and SUVs) increased by 6% to 1.3 vehicles — the first time since February that monthly sales in 2020 were higher than in 2019.

However, during the first three quarters of 2020, new light vehicle sales contracted by nearly a fifth to 10.3 million vehicles.

China — Higher Sales in 2020 (Q1-Q3)

In September 2020, new passenger vehicle registrations in China increased for the fifth consecutive month. Chinese new car sales increased by 8% to 2.1 million cars.

Year-to-date 2020, new car sales in China is 13% lower to 13.1 million cars. The Chinese new car market remains the largest in the world and the best-performing major car market in the world.

Total Number of Vehicles Registered in China 2020 increased to 370 million.

Japan — Low Car Sales in 2020 (Jan to September)

New passenger vehicle registrations in Japan contracted by 15% to 390,800 cars in September 2020. During the first three quarters of 2020, the Japanese new car market contracted by 18% to 2.8 million vehicles.

Brazil — Low Car Sales in 2020 (Q1-Q3)

Light vehicle sales in Brazil contracted by 11% to 199,200 cars. The Brazilian new car market contracted by a third to 1.3 million vehicles.

Worldwide Car Sales 2020: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, Full Year

About the author:

Henk Bekker

Henk Bekker is a freelance writer with over 20 years of experience in online writing. His best-selling cars website has been reporting car sales statistics since 2008 with classic car auction prices focusing on the most expensive automobiles sold at public auctions in the past decade. He also owns the travel websites European-Traveler.com and Lake Geneva Switzerland. Henk holds an MBA from Edinburgh Business School and an MSc in Finance from the University of London.