In 2017, the world has sold more than 90 million cars

8 January 2018

Global demand set a new record

Analysts began to sum up the results of the past year. The exact calculation auto sales takes time, so companies have not accurate results of their activities, but with a few assumptions, the General picture is already clear. 2017 was the eighth consecutive year of growth in global demand for cars. Global sales overcame another important milestone — 90 million cars.

According to a report by Macquarie Bank, in 2016, were sold to 88.1 million cars. If 90 million in 2017 to take over the exact number (and it's only estimations), the increase was about 2 %. According to experts, the increase in sales became possible due to started the recovery of demand in countries such as Brazil and Russia, as well as good results in Eastern Europe. However, the key growth driver is Asia. More than 25% of the global demand for cars comes from China, although a decade ago it accounted for only 15 %.

At the same time, the Chinese market is developing is not so fast. For example, in November he was even a little declined, though, and symbolically (by 0.03 %). For Russia 2017 was good: for the first 11 months, the growth was 11,7 %. At the same time, given the pending price increase of machinery and the exhaustion of the effect of deferred demand, the dealers are not as optimistic about 2018. If to speak about the situation in General, even relatively successful 2017 can not be compared with the period 2012-2013.

Sales in Western Europe stable. In Germany and Italy registered the best results in the last 5-7 years, although demand in the UK has fallen amid expectations of negative consequences because of the "Brekzita" (the country's withdrawal from the European Union).

The United States remains the second largest automotive markets in the world. At the same time setting new record in 2016, when America was sold of 17.55 million vehicles in 2017 is expected a slight decline to 17.23 million (preliminary data CNBC). This is not the beginning of the crisis, and only a small correction, the more that even with that 2017 was one of the most successful in the history of the US automotive market.

If we look at the dynamics in the longer term, the growth in demand for passenger cars will become even more obvious. In the period since 2009 the auto industry has added on average by 4.1 % per year. In absolute numbers the growth is even more impressive: from about 60 million to 90, that is, in half.

Despite the optimism, not to mention negative factors. Every year on the roads killed about 1.25 million people. With over 90 % of fatal cases occur in countries with low and average level of well-being. This is due to a weak prevalence of more complex and expensive measures of precaution, but also a low level of traffic culture.

A traditional subject for discussion remains the problem of harmful emissions. Despite the declared toughening of standards, the real figures are far from required. As shown by the series of scandals often, the car company deliberately misled regulatory bodies and their clients with false reports so under-reported on the content of CO2 and other substances in the exhaust gases.

One of the possible ways out of this situation is to change the demand for electric cars. Their popularity is gradually increasing, although on a global scale while they account for less than 1 % of sales. Some countries in Europe and Asia, including Germany, Norway, Denmark, France and China, periodically discuss the possible total elimination of petrol and diesel cars on the horizon 2025-2035 years. In most cases, the conversations on this theme are the nature of the discussion, none of the state has not yet established the exact date of refusal of cars with internal combustion engines.

At the same time, one of the leaders in the struggle for the environment is China. The government has already approved a plan that in 2018, 8 % of sales of each manufacturer should be in the electric cars and hybrids. This level will be raised to 10% in 2019 and 20% in 2025-m. moreover, just recently it became known that the government of the PRC from 1 January 2018 zapretila the release of 553 vehicles with high emissions.

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