Frankfurt. The year 2018 is expected to close with 3.42 million new passenger car registrations and thus almost reach the previous year’s level. The VDIK members will increase their sales by one percent to approximately 1.325 million units.
Private and fleet market growing
The private market is growing by two percent and, with 1.25 million new registrations, has reached its highest level since 2011. 46 percent of every second privately purchased passenger car comes from an international manufacturer.
At around 820,000 units, the fleet market will not reach the record level of 2017 again. The international manufacturers increased their share by two percent here as well, reaching a market share of 30 percent in the commercial market for the first time.
Diesel registrations down 18 percent
Diesel engine registrations fell to 1.1 million units. This corresponds to a decline of 18 percent.
The VDIK brands account for approximately 28 percent of diesel registrations. In contrast, gasoline registrations rose by eight percent to approximately 2.14 million registrations and, together with alternative drives, largely offset the decline in diesel registrations.
Alternative drive systems are increasing their share of the overall market from 3.4 to 5.3 percent by a good 50 percent. The best-selling alternative drive unit is the hybrid without plug-in. Of these vehicles, around 96,000 units were registered, 74 percent more than in the previous year. Purely electric vehicles increased by 48 percent to 37,000 units, making them the second-strongest alternative drive type.
The plug-in hybrids increased their sales by seven percent to 31,500 units.
SUV segment with high growth rates
According to the figures at the end of October, the highest-volume vehicle segments continue to be the compact class, SUVs and small cars. Demand for SUVs remains strong and has risen by 25 percent compared to the previous year. In the private market, the SUV segment achieved first place with an increase of 20 percent, displacing the previously leading compact class to second place.
Record market share for international motor vehicle manufacturers
The VDIK member companies will sell a total of 1.325 million units in 2018 and increase their market share to 38.7 percent. Excluding the exceptional year of 2009, this is the highest market share since reunification.
Passenger car market remains high in 2019
VDIK President Reinhard Zirpel: “We assume that the good economic conditions and a good order backlog will enable us to achieve total sales in 2019 at the level of 2018”.
