The best-selling vehicle model in Europe is the Peugeot 208. Peugeot sold about 206,800 units of the 208 model in European markets in 2022. It was followed by Dacia Sandero with over 200 thousand units sold.
European Manufacturers Dominate the Traditional Car Market
Most of the 10 best-selling models in Europe came from European automakers, with the Toyota Yaris and Hyundai Tucson the only non-European models to enter the ranking. The region is home to some of the world’s largest automotive manufacturers, such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW—which ranked across sectors among the most valuable brands worldwide in 2021— and the Volkswagen Group—one of the global market leaders in sales volume. While European car manufacturers were the most popular in the region, their production and sales volume faced challenges brought on by the global automotive semiconductor shortage. Production halts in the region are expected to impact automotive companies' global profit as around seven million vehicles were forecast to be cut from worldwide production.
European Brands Are Behind on Electric Vehicle Sales in the Region
The European best-sellers were mostly traditional vehicles with internal combustion engines. In contrast, there have been increasing regional efforts to set zero-emission goals for passenger car emissions. In June 2022, the European Union parliament approved a ban on new fossil-fuel cars from 2035, and the United Kingdom has made similar commitments. European brands faced steep competition in the electric vehicle market. Tesla was the European market leader for plug-in electric vehicles in 2022. The Model Y reported over 138 thousand sales, followed by the Model 3.
In contrast, Asian brands were the most popular in the European Union for new hybrid vehicles, with five Toyota models sharing the top five. However, European brands met more international success with their electric models. In the first seven months of 2022, Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz were among the global best-selling plug-in electric vehicle brands.
FAQs
The best-selling vehicle model in Europe is the Peugeot 208. Peugeot sold about 206,800 units of the 208 model in European markets in 2022. It was followed by Dacia Sandero with over 200 thousand units sold.
What is the best selling car model? ›
The Toyota Corolla, Ford F-Series, and Volkswagen Golf are the top three best-selling cars of all time. The Corolla reached 50 million units in 2021, while Ford has sold 43 million F-Series trucks, and VW has sold 35.5 million Golfs.
What is the number one car brand in Europe? ›
Volkswagen was the best-selling car brand in December 2023, based on new registrations in the European Union. Volkswagen's car sales amounted to over 99,100 units that month, a decrease of two percent year-on-year.
What is the best selling EV model in Europe? ›
#1 Tesla Model Y — The 2022 (and 2023) best selling EV in Europe had a solid 25,041 deliveries, which allowed it to be the best selling model in the overall market in December!
What is the best-selling European car in the US? ›
In 2022, Mercedes-Benz was the best-selling European car brand in the United States. BMW was ranked second, while fellow German manufacturer Volkswagen completed the top three.
What is Europe favorite car? ›
The Peugeot 208, Europe's favorite car model in 2022, slipped to fifth with sales down 6% — the worst performance of any top ten model.
What is the most popular selling car in the world? ›
Tesla, the California-based EV brand and one of Elon Musk's first companies, now builds the best-selling vehicle in the world. Although many global markets have not yet released full-year sales data, preliminary data collected by JATO Dynamics and Car Industry Analysis indicates the Tesla Model Y has taken the lead.
What is the best buy car of Europe? ›
Amsterdam, the Netherlands – BYD DOLPHIN is elected AUTOBEST ''Best Buy Car of Europe 2024''. The 31 journalists on the AUTOBEST jury from 31 European countries have voted for BYD DOLPHIN as a strong winner.
What is the best-selling SUV in Europe? ›
Europe's No. 1 SUV was Tesla Model Y, which accounted for 138,152 sales in the first half, making it the region's overall leader during the half. The Volkswagen T-Roc was the No. 2-selling SUV, and also the leader of the small SUV category ahead of the Toyota Yaris Cross (see table, below).
Is Tesla the best-selling car in Europe? ›
The Tesla Model Y has been named the best-selling car in Europe for March. According to Jato Dynamics, EV sales are declining while hybrid numbers are on the up, with a total of 382,700 hybrid vehicles registered between January and March this year – the highest number of quarterly registrations since 2021.
During 2023, the best-selling EV in Italy was the Tesla Model Y. During 2023, the best-selling vehicle was the Tesla Model Y, which recorded 8,587 units, according to data from the Unione Nazionale Rappresentanti Autoveicoli Esteri (UNRAE).
What is the most sold SUV in Europe? ›
Volkswagen Tiguan
The Tiguan has been the best-selling SUV in Europe for several years now. It offers a spacious cabin, good build quality, and a comfortable ride. The Volkswagen Tiguan is a compact SUV that offers a perfect combination of style, versatility, and performance.
What is the biggest car industry in Europe? ›
The Germany-based Volkswagen AG is the leading automotive OEM in Europe (by revenue).
Who has the biggest car collection in Europe? ›
Rodger Dudding owns “around 500 cars” and is still buying more. His collection, named Studio434 and housed near north London, represents more than a century of motoring.
