Europe Sales : 2022

Registrations for December were up a promising 15% and for 2022 -4% so the deficit wasn't fully erased. The '+/- diff' column below is for market share change.. Green means market share gain but not necessarily an increase in sales. 

VW is protecting its double digit share and still holds a clear lead over the competition. Toyota meanwhile is gradually improving its position with steady, incremental gains. VW will not want to relinquish top spot to its global rival in its own backyard. 

Some of the smaller brands are doing well, green being a prominent colour further down the list. As new brands arrive due to a push for greener cars, unusual names are popping up, some not listed here due to their size. I'm surprised the supplier of this data didn't include BYD so I did some maths and came up with a reasonable estimate. 

How Europe is defined and therefore how far to go collating sales statistics will vary by source. I've also noticed when the following year's sales are presented, the previous year's numbers are modified with improved data used to refine the figures. So some of the 2022 numbers will be updated at the end of 2023. At least we have a good idea of how things are. Those who put the numbers together are to be commended as it can't be easy with some sources in particular. 

Data source: ANE.

Is Korea Being Treated As Hogu?

I was reading a Korean article online (translated) and it said some car companies view Korea as a hogu. What does Hogu mean? It's the amour worn by practitioners of Taekwondo. But is that all?

A Google search revealed it also can also be a slang term meaning someone who is foolish (or stupid) and easily deceived by others.

Reading on, it said Tesla has an overall operating profit of 12.1% but in Korea it's 1.5%. Porsche 16% and 3.5%, Mercedes-Benz 17.2% and 3.5%, BMW 12% and 2.1%. It was claimed that cars are overpriced when sent to Korea to reduce profit made within Korea. this is a trick to avoid corporate tax in Korea. These are successful marques in Korea, MB sold over 80,000 cars in Korea last year, BMW 78,500, Porsche 9,000 and Tesla estimates vary wildly.

If true, why are companies picking on Korea to do that? High corporate taxation in Korea would be an obvious reason but I don't know about such things. Is Korea a hogu, a place that easily tricked? I know that the second point isn't true. For example, it watches import brands' claims on fuel consumption closely and severely punishes any perceived transgressions in that regard.  

As for the Korean car market, it's no eldorado. Some of the casualties of late have been Subaru (left in 2012), Mitsubishi (2013), Fiat (2017), Nissan and Infiniti (2019) and Citroën sold its last car in April of  2022 and Jaguar sales all but ceased. 

So if Korea was foolish enough to be taken advantage of, some brands missed an opportunity. Is this a way to discredit successful import brands or unfair tax avoidance? I can't say but the culture in Asia generally is anti trade and pro export. The Korean car market - like many others in the region - is protected when it is now strong enough not to need any at all. 

I'm not into politics be it government or business so I'm not playing such. Fairness is very important to me as it is for most people yet the world is anything but fair at times. I just want to know what is the truth in all of this but maybe it's not for us to know.  

Slovakia Top 50 Sales : 2022

An even mix of Asian and Euro brands are spread across the chart below. Hyundai and Kia lead with both gaining about 1% more in market share. It may not sound much but it's quite a slice of the pie. 

Last year's kingpin Škoda Fabia knocked back to third, not surprising as it lost a sizable 2.7% of its market share. The Škoda brand is still well represented but not as well this time. 

Data source: ZAP SR.

Europe Top 10 : 2022 (& 26 Years Past)

Historically, the Top 10 models for Europe* haven't changed much from year to year. The change has accelerated in more recent times, over the 27 years it covers. 

To the right is the 2022 list. There were two changes from 2021. From 1997 to 2001, there were just three changes in total! The next five years eight, then seven, ten, and the last five year period fourteen. 2022 slowed slightly.

To the left is a summary of past winners over the 27 years. I'll explain. 

Top 10: How many times a model has been on the list. Only one has been there every year, the VW Golf. In '22 the Clio was missing for the first time.

Ist: How many times a model has been top. The Golf has been there twenty times. Only three others have managed to even get there. 

High: The highest a model has achieved. The Corsa is the third most successful but never bettered fourth. A model of consistency. 

Low: A bit academic but shows the lowest ranking. All bar two have been out of the Top 10, with the Golf never going below fifth place, that in 2022. 

The final chart to the right is broken down into brands. VW has had Top 10 representatives on 62 occasions. In all thirteen different brands have been involved. Hyundai joined this prestigious group in 2022.

*What is defined as Europe is open to interpretation and over this period there would have been additions.   

India Top Model Sales : 2022

Tata is adding some punch to its range

Suzuki got in early, established a reputation for cheap, reliable motoring and has a virtual stranglehold on the market. Hyundai is also a serious player here and local company Tata has lifted its game with some technical and design help from JLR.  I'm picking it may pass Huyundai in 2023. Another local brand Mahindra has achieved success with its range of SUVs and 4wd vehicles. 

In the chart below, the colour yellow represents Asian models and pale blue those associated with Europe. Suzuki is everywhere with hit after hit. Tata has landed a few punches of its own. The list length in total has been reducing over the last few years. I'm picking the likes of Renault and Nissan are mulling over their future here. That's not a prediction of an exit for either but their thinning range of models makes me wonder. 

Slovakia Sales : 2022

Registrations for 2022 were -+4% on 2021. Škoda is top and ahead of the rest as you would expect but at a reduced level. Hyundai, Kia and Toyota and Kia follow with Toyota in particular gaining. Dacia too had a good year and moved to sixth but the gap up from there will make another rankings gain in 2023 hard work. 

The '+/- diff' column below is for market share change.

Data source: ZAP SR.

Indonesia Vehicle Sales : 2022

As is par for the course, another car manufacturing Asuan country with prohibitive tariff protection. At least Indonesia is not a wealthy nation so somewhat understandable. Perhaps a lowering of the amount of protection would facilitate more variety. 

Apart from a few super luxury and premium brands that don't report sales, they are basically all here, those with volume anyway. It also includes commercial vehicles, many of those not reporting but not again little effect on volumes. 

Toyota does what it does in many countries, dominate the sales chart. Along with the subsidiary brand Daihatsu it took over 50% market share. Sales for Toyota were up too but with the total sales up 18%, it registered as a 5% drop. That's because the '+/- diff' column below is for market share change, something regular readers are well aware of. 

Data source: Gaikindo.

Liechtenstein Sales : 2022

Markets don't get much smaller than this. It's nice they openly share data and if I know about it it is published here. German marques are always popular in German language regions and here is no exception. 

Registrations for 2022 were -6% on the corresponding period of 2021. The '+/- diff' column below is for market share change. Being so small, even a few sales and positions can soon change.  Audi and Mercedes jumped closer to BMW and Tesla is eyeing them all with sharper pricing to entice customers away from the others. 

Data source: Liechtensteinische Landesverwaltung.

Bosnia-Herzegovina Sales : 2022

Registrations for December were +19% and for 2022 were +12% so s a decent return in trying times. The '+/- diff' column below is for market share change. Škoda and VW have been the top two brands (in that order) for many years and remains so despite an early scare from Toyota moving into second. Normal service has been resumed but 2023 is another year and another battle for the hearts of the motoring public. 

Mexico Top 50 Models : 2022

I was trying to get some photos from manufacturers websites in Mexico and was surprised how many make it impossible to do so and the computer generated efforts were too artificial. Renault and VW were two that do a fine job in both access and realistic pictures. So they got the nod. Above the Renault Kwid in a dangerous parking situation and below the VW Nivus possibly about to be appropriated.

The Kia Rio lept into the top spot and relegated two Nissan's in the process. Mind you Nissan is cutting back sales here so they assisted Kia nicely. The MG 5 got to fifth from 43rd. There were many other moves of note too. US brands secured six of the top 15 spots and Asian ones eight. Asian brands do well here.  

Data source: Inegi.

Renault Group Top 75 Nation Sales : 2022

You have to take your hat off to Renault for providing what is unique in the car industry, letting us see sales by country. A few do regions and most do nothing. Yet people want to know but I guess if you put out data then you will have people interpret it, whereas large corporations want to control that. 

Below is a list of 75 nations the Renault Group operate in and how many vehicles they sold in each one. Russian data and all that is associated with that is removed from 2021. That is understandable as the data would be distorted otherwise, giving a misleading picture.

There were another 50 nations that didn't make the list below for 2022 and their combined sales were 5,222. I would like to challenge other car manufacturers to follow suit but it would be pointless as they won't. I hope Renault continues with their open policy.  

Singapore Sales : 2022

Registrations for December were -17% and for 2022 were -32%.  Figures are distorted by supply issues but in Singapore's case also how many new car certificates (COEs) are issued. The '+/- diff' column below is for market share change.

Toyota combined with Lexus is the leading combo ahead of Mercedes-Benz. Amazingly Porsche is outselling VW by nearly two to one. Nothing highlights the artificial nature of the car market in Singapore more than that. BYD and SsangYong are both having a good run.

So sales were well down but higher priced cars did better, as demand for COEs goes up, so do their price and wealthier buyers prevail. Bentley, Ferrari and Rolls Royce all grew in market share substantially. With cars like Ferraris, I presume they are taken to Malaysia to stretch their legs as I can't see a tiny island state like Singapore meeting a driver's desire for exhilarating motoring.

PS. I have since found out Mclaren Singapore organized a trip to the Desaru Coast, Malaysia. Picture below. 

Data source: LTA.

Europe Top 50 : 2022

Statistics from Europe are not consistent from the various sources available. The main difference is what they constitute Europe as. At least they are not too different in results. It's important to stay with the same source in a year to year comparison which is the case below.

The VW Golf has been knocked off its perch as the leading model, unceremoniously dumped down to fifth. While the Golf is a good car, its more recent Euro success has been based on extreme German loyalty and as the largest market in the region, that carries much weight.

It's been replaced by the Peugeot 208, no doubt reliant on local support too but not on the same scale. Meanwhile, the Dacia Sandero is from Romania and that relies on exports for most of its popularity so a well received model across Europe. 

Data source: Automotive News Europe

India Sales : 2022

The data comes from more than one source and that invariably means different ways of tabulating. The larger brands are for factory deliveries to dealers and the smaller ones retail sales. The resulting amalgam is as good as I can get. The '+/- diff' column below is for market share change.

Suzuki's dominance was reduced but hardly an issue when leading by so much. Nearest rival Hyundai lost ground but local brands Tata and Mahindra did very well. Tata outsold Hyundai in December which is unusual and it will be interesting to see if that transpires into a positional change in the ranking for 2023. 

Ford exited the market last year and Nissan ended the Datsun brand this year so the somewhat limited choice the Indian consumer has got that little bit worse. The issue is extremely strong protection for local production through exorbitant tariffs on imports. However, when the local industry is well established as this one now is and the import duty remains, it crosses the line of reasonable protection. 

There were few brands that actually increased their share, the top two are down and most of the smaller brands. Tata and Mahindra are notable exceptions with the former pressing Hyundai hard. Škoda and VW have accelerated their sales. Citroën is making a comeback and how that pans out will be interesting. MINI's sales are based on last year's volume and what BMW/MINI is doing this year.

Renault India Model Sales : 2019-22

Leaving 2018, Renault was back to a minor 2.5% of the total sales in the country. The Duster was running out of steam, the Capture and Lodgy had both failed. The Range needed something new.

2019/20: In came the Triber (picture above), a small MPV that seemed to be a good car for the market. It became the best selling car in the range and took Renault's total share back over 3%. The Capture and Lodgy said their good byes.

2021: The Duster ended its time here and the Kiger (pic right) arrived. Smaller than the Duster, it is identical in length to the Triber but has an SUV body style. 

In a country where a few brands dominate, finding a niche that enables a brand to be viable isn't easy. The figures below are full years except for 2022, which is for the first five months.

2022: Sales are reasonable but not enough to retain market share, as it returns yet again to well below the 3% mark. Apparently, more models are coming which would help as the present lineup looks a little thin. 

For others in the series, click on the dates: 2011-14; 2015-18.

Colombia Sales : 2022

Registrations for December were down 19% but for 2022 were +3%. Most markets are moving into positive territory but for now not so here. The '+/- diff' column below is for market share change. The figures include cars, SUVs, pick ups and taxis. 

As the market has some tariff protection, only a few brands are strong.  The stranglehold Renault has enjoyed diminished slightly , with Chevrolet and Toyota trying to close the chasm between them and the top spot. Mazda, Nissan and Ford were big losers. Some Chinese brands are making gains, perhaps enjoying a better semiconductor supply. 

Data source: Andemos.