World’s 2018. Volkswagen Group on top of light vehicles, over Nissan/Renault & Toyota

World Light Vehicles sales in 2018 have lost 1.1% from the previous year with 88.9 million units, due to the introduction of WLTP rules in Europe and Chinese market Q4 deep fall. For the fourth year in a row, Volkswagen Group is the market leader, while Renault-Nissan Alliance maintained the second place.

Global Market Trend

The Global light vehicles market in 2018 has broken the growth after seven years losing terrain from the previous year with total sales at 88.9 million units, down 1.1%, well below any expectations.

Indeed, the first half of the year has been highly performing. However, the second half was affected by the WLTP introduction in Europe – where sales fluctuated losing 10.6% in September – and worsened due to Chinese crisis.

Best Selling Manufacturers

As far as concern the sales aggregated by Manufacturers Group, the battle for leadership has been quite exciting, involving three groups, which aggregate sales of 21 brands and represent near one-third of global vehicles sales.

On top of the 2018 raking, as in the previous two years, there is the Volkswagen Group (Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, Seat, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Bentley, Porsche and Bugatti) with 10.5 million sales (+1.8%), with 11.8% of market share.

The brand this year is pushed up by the restarted operations in Algeria and South Korea and by the recovery in Brazil while sales are falling is Mexico and India.

In second place, Renault-Nissan Alliance (Nissan, Renault, Mitsubishi, Dacia, Lada, Infiniti, Datsun, Renault Samsung, CMC, ZNA) with 9.8 million sales. Following the conquest of the World’ throne in February and March, in the recent months the gap to Volkswagen increased substantially. The Group is running fast in China, Russia, Brazil, Indonesia, Argentina and Thailand, mentioning just the biggest markets, while is penalized by US, Mexico, UK negative performance.

In third place the Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota, Daihatsu, Lexus, Scion) with 9.5 million sales (+2.3%).

The brand is fast-moving in Thailand, South Korea, Spain, Argentina, while is losing in Saudi Arabia, Philippines and Turkey (again, mentioning just the biggest countries).

In fourth place the General Motors Corporation (Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Holden, Ravon, Wuling, Baojun) with 8.7 million sales (-3.3%) having lost in the last three months in a row. The Group is struggling in Mexico, South Korea, Australia, Saudi Arabia.

In fifth place the Korean Hyundai Group (Hyundai, Kia, Genesis) in recovery after the awful 2017, with 7.3 million sales (+1%).  Among the fastest growing markets there are China, Russia, Spain, France, Netherlands.

In sixth place the Ford Motor Company (Ford, Lincoln) involved in sharp times with 5.3 million sales, down 11.5%. Operations in China are killing the brand (-40.2%) but others negative figures are reported for Turkey, Mexico, Australia, South Africa, Philippines.

In seventh place Honda Motor Group (Honda, Acura) with 4.9 million (-0.3%). Fast growing markets are Japan, Australia, Taiwan, Vietnam.

In eight place  F.C.A. (Fiat, Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Jeep, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Maserati, Ferrari, Abarth, Iveco) with 4.5 million sales (+0.6%).

In ninth the French P.S.A. (Peugeot, Citroen, Opel, Vauxhall, DS) with 3.5 million sales (-7.3%), driven up by Iran, Netherlands, Poland, Chile, Greece.

In 10th place Suzuki Corporation (Suzuki, Maruti) with 2.7 million (+5.2%).

Please bear in mind that data in the report do not include HCV and Bus sales but only cars and LCVs.

Data Source

This report is done utilizing data extracted from our GAD (Global Auto Database) the wider Auto Sales Database actually existing in the World, with sales data by region/area/country broken down by type/size/body-style/brand/model from January 2010 to the last month. Data are collected by over 300 sources, including all the official providers (local Minister of Transportations or Associations of car Manufacturers).

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