Different markets, different tastes

[skyrover]

An interesting comparison I have put together of the worlds largest auto markets and our own British domestic market.

How do Brits see other markets? What makes the British market different? Any surprises on there?

Best selling car's and segement

UK best sellers

1. Ford Fiesta (Supermini)
2. Ford Focus (Compact car)
3. Vauxhall Corsa (Supermini)
4. Volkswagen Golf (Compact car)
5. Vauxhall Astra (Compact car)
6. Nissan Qashqai (Compact CUV)
7. Audi A3 (Compact car)
8. Volkswagen Polo (Supermini)
9. Fiat 500 (City car)
10. BMW 3 Series (Compact executive car)

Germany best sellers (largest European market)

1. Volkswagen Golf/Jetta (Compact car)
2. Volkswagen Passat (Large family car)
3. BMW 3 Series (Compact executive car)
4. Volkswagen Polo (Supermini)
5. Audi A3 (Compact Car)
6. Volkswagen Tiguan (Compact CUV)
7. BMW 1 Series (Supermini)
8. Mercedes C-Class (Compact executive car)
9. Opel Astra (Compact Car)
10. Opel Corsa (Supermini)

China (Largest car market)

1. Volkswagen Sagitar (Compact car)
2. Great Wall H6 (Compact SUV)
3. Volkswagen Santana (2013) (Compact Car)
4. Volkswagen Lavida (Compact car)
5. Volkswagen Jetta (Compact car)
6. Hyundai Elantra (Compact car)
7. Buick Excelle (Compact Car)
8. Volkwagen Tiguan (Compact CUV)
9. Hyundai Verna (Compact car)
10. Volkswagen Bora (Compact car)

USA (Second largest market)

1. Ford F-Series (Large pickup)
2. Chevrolet Silverado (Large Pickup)
3. Toyota Camry (Large Family Car)
4. Ram P/U (Large Pickup)
5. Honda Accord (Large Family car)
6. Toyota Corolla (Compact Car)
7. Nissan Altima (Large Family Car)
8. Honda Civic (Compact Car)
9. Ford Mondeo (Large Family Car)
10. Honda CR-V (Compact CUV)

[JakeT]

You'll see that basically the USA is massively opulent with so many large trucks and SUV's selling so well. In Europe and china it's mainly compacts and superminis, due to fuel prices and such. Also, lots of German cars.

[MG511]

Thanks for that, very interesting. Things that stand out for me are the Passat at no.2 in Germany (Mondeo/Insignia are nowhere over here), how badly Opel are doing in Germany, how US manufactures only seem to sell trucks while the Japanese sell cars and German manufactures are nowhere; VW have really slipped in the States over the years.

[kambites]

Do the Germans really consider the 1-series to be a supermini?

[anonymous-user]

kambites said:

Do the Germans really consider the 1-series to be a supermini?

In the US the cars "class" in terms of size is defined by the interior volume. I can see how you'd end up calling the 1 series a supermini by that metric!

[g3org3y]

I was in Cyprus a few weeks back. In the two weeks I was there, I saw countless Merc C/E Class and BMW 3/5 Series saloons. Despite this, only saw two estate models - apparently a rather unpopular body style.

[swisstoni]

VW must be coining it if they are selling well in China.

[crosseyedlion]

g3org3y said:

I was in Cyprus a few weeks back. In the two weeks I was there, I saw countless Merc C/E Class and BMW 3/5 Series saloons. Despite this, only saw two estate models - apparently a rather unpopular body style.

Estates are mostly a northern european thing, for most others its just out of necessity, where as we'll buy them because we think they look better.

[swisstoni]

Hatch less popular than 3-box in many markets.

[skyrover]

Interestingly... there is no car common to all 4 markets.

The closest would probably be the VW golf/Jetta

I've broken it down further into vehicle class per top 10.

UK:

1 City car
3 Supermini's
4 Compact Car's
1 Compact CUV
1 Compact Executive

Germany:

3 Supermini's
3 Compact Car's
1 Compact CUV
1 Large Family Car
2 Compact Executive Car's

China:

8 Compact Cars
1 Compact CUV
1 Compact SUV

USA:

2 Compact Cars
1 Compact CUV
4 Large Family Cars
3 Large Pickups

[lamboman100]

skyrover said:

Interestingly... there is no car common to all 4 markets.

The closest would probably be the VW golf/Jetta

I've broken it down further into vehicle class per top 10.

UK:

1 City car
3 Supermini's
4 Compact Car's
1 Compact CUV
1 Compact Executive

Germany:

3 Supermini's
3 Compact Car's
1 Compact CUV
1 Large Family Car
2 Compact Executive Car's

China:

8 Compact Cars
1 Compact CUV
1 Compact SUV

USA:

2 Compact Cars
1 Compact CUV
4 Large Family Cars
3 Large Pickups

The broad trend, from the sample, is: the more open space you have, the bigger the car.

UK, Germany and China have population densities roughly 5 to 10 times higher than the US. And they favour compacts / minis.