Europe Car Sales Plummet 24% In 2020

Sales of new passenger cars in the European Union fell by a record 23.7 percent to 9.94 million last year due to the pandemic’s effects. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). In the Czech Republic, the decline was slightly more modest but still exceeded 18 percent. At the end of the year, however, sales already showed a year-on-year increase. Škoda also managed to increase its market share last year.

Compared to the previous year, about three million fewer cars were sold across the EU. The percentage declines were double-digit in all twenty-seven countries. Of the large markets, Spain (minus 32.3 percent), Italy (minus 27.9 percent), and France (minus 25.5 percent) saw the sharpest declines. Germany reported a 19.1 percent drop in new car registrations.

In December, new passenger car sales in the EU fell by 3.3 percent year to 1.03 million vehicles. However, the four largest automotive markets showed very different results. In France and Spain, the decline was double-digit (minus 14.9 and minus 11.8 percent). Germany, on the other hand, has seen a substantial increase of 9.9 percent. In Spain, about the same number of cars were registered year-on-year as a year ago.

In the Czech Republic, sales of new passenger cars rose by 8.7 percent year on year to 20,333 vehicles in December, according to ACEA. In total, from January to December, however, sales fell by 18.8 percent to 202,971 vehicles.

Škoda Auto, which is part of the Volkswagen Group, increased sales in the EU by 8.4 percent year to 53,695 vehicles in December. For the whole year, however, its sales fell by 14.9 percent and reached 557,999 cars. The brand’s share of the EU market rose to 5.2 percent from 4.6 percent year-on-year in December to 5.6 percent from five percent a year earlier.