The best-selling cars around the world in 2022
Australia defies global trends both in terms of market buoyancy and in the types of vehicles we buy. Here's a snapshot of how the rest of the world spends its automotive dollars.
Monthly new car sales data always makes for fascinating reading. Thanks to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and its monthly VFACTS reports, Australians know that in March for instance, the new car market was up 1.2 per cent when compared with March 2021, although 0.5 per cent down overall for the year against the same period last year.
We know that the Toyota HiLux continues to be Australia’s best-selling vehicle, with sales so far in 2022 of 14,718. It beats out another utilitarian workhorse, the Mitsubishi Triton (10,495) which in turn just pipped another Toyota, the RAV4 which has recorded 10,489 sales this year.
And while they might dominate the roadscape and dealership forecourts in Australia, we remain a bit of an outlier when compared to other major markets.
So, what does the market look like in other countries?
A quick snapshot reveals that most major markets are experiencing a downturn in new car sales, driven in part by the global semiconductor shortage, and the economic uncertainty surrounding the ongoing war in Ukraine. For public interest, we've included latest sales data from both Ukraine and Russia to gauge the impact of the ongoing war on that region.
So, what are the best-selling cars so far in 2022 in other countries? We’ve dug the through the data to find out. We’ve also included what we’re calling the ‘Tesla Index’ in order to gauge consumer sentiment around electric cars in other markets. All figures supplied are to the end of March 2022 unless otherwise stated, and have been sourced from the equivalent of the FCAI in those regions.
United Kingdom
Overall market – down 14.3 per cent year-on-year
Top three selling models
| 1 | Vauxhall Corsa | 9797 |
| 2 | Kia Sportage | 8697 |
| 3 | Ford Puma | 8528 |
| Tesla Index | ||
| 6 | Model Y | 7774 |
| 7 | Model 3 | 7773 |
Germany
Overall market – down 17.5 per cent
Top three selling models
| 1 | Volkswagen Golf | 24,557 |
| 2 | Volkswagen Tiguan | 15,405 |
| 3 | Volkswagen T-Roc | 11,245 |
| Tesla Index | ||
| 10 | Model 3 | 8483 |
| 40 | Model Y | 6457 |
France
Overall market – down 19.5 per cent
Top three selling models
| 1 | Peugeot 208 | 21,875 |
| 2 | Citroen C3 | 16,672 |
| 3 | Renault Clio | 15,771 |
| Tesla Index | ||
| 12 | Model 3 | 6636 |
| 50 | Model Y | 1845 |
USA
Overall market – down 10 per cent
Top three selling models
| 1 | Ford F-Series | 140,701 |
| 2 | Ram pick-up | 127,116 |
| 3 | Chevrolet Silverado | 118,796 |
| Tesla Index | ||
| 6 | Model Y | 71,358 |
| 14 | Model 3 | 46,707 |
China
(data only to the end of February 2022)
Overall market – down 9 per cent
Top three selling models
| 1 | Nissan Sylphy | 89,062 |
| 2 | Volkswagen Lavida | 77,561 |
| 3 | Tesla Model Y | 65,700 |
| Tesla Index | ||
| 3 | Model Y | 65,700 |
| 5 | Model 3 | 50,660 |
Norway
Overall market – down 10.9 per cent
Top three selling models
| 1 | Tesla Model Y | 3305 |
| 2 | Volkswagen ID.4 | 1712 |
| 3 | Tesla Model 3 | 1696 |
| Tesla Index | ||
| 1 | Model Y | 3305 |
| 3 | Model 3 | 1696 |
Sweden
Overall market – down 39.5 per cent
Top three selling models
| 1 | Volvo XC40 | 3933 |
| 2 | Kia Niro | 3291 |
| 3 | Volvo XC60 | 3200 |
| Tesla Index | ||
| 7 | Model Y | 1954 |
| 12 | Model 3 | 1179 |
Brazil
Overall market – down 23.8 per cent
Top three selling models
| 1 | Fiat Strada | 21,683 |
| 2 | Chevrolet Onix | 17,348 |
| 3 | Hyundai HB20 | 18,761 |
| Tesla Index | ||
| No sales data |
Italy
Overall market – down 29.7 per cent
Top three selling models
| 1 | Fiat Panda | 29,805 |
| 2 | Lancia Ypsilon | 10,767 |
| 3 | Dacia Sandero | 9585 |
| Tesla Index | ||
| Model Y | 678 | |
| Model 3 | 378 |
New Zealand
Overall market – down 0.7 per cent
Top three selling models
| 1 | Mitsubishi Triton | 4238 |
| 2 | Ford Ranger | 3995 |
| 3 | Toyota HiLux | 2971 |
| Tesla Index | ||
| 5 | Model 3 | 1301 |
Ukraine
(data to end of 2021)
Overall market – up 20.8 per cent
Top three selling models
| 1 | Kia Sportage | 6918 |
| 2 | Toyota RAV4 | 6196 |
| 3 | Renault Duster | 5354 |
| Tesla Index | ||
| No data |
Russia
Overall market – down 62.9 per cent
Top 3 selling models
| 1 | Kia Rio | 17,017 |
| 2 | Lada Vesta | 16,281 |
| 3 | Lada Granta | 15,719 |
| Tesla Index | ||
| No data |
Spain
Overall market – down 30.2 per cent
Top three selling models
| 1 | Hyundai Tucson | 4482 |
| 2 | Toyota Corolla | 4220 |
| 3 | Toyota C-HR | 4048 |
| Tesla Index | ||
| 49 | Model 3 | 1133 |
| 116 | Model Y | 110 |
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