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Full Year 2014: Total sales data now available for 144 countries

Tehran IranIran is the best performing market in the Top 50 this year. Photo © Ricardo Fernandez

* See the Top 50 biggest car markets in the world by clicking on the title! *

Thanks to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), I can share with you the overall Full Year 2014 sales figures for 144 countries/markets in the world. Below the jump you will find the Top 50 biggest markets in the world, however please note – as it was the case last year – this ranking classifies countries based on their overall vehicle sales. That’s Passenger Cars and Commercial Vehicles, including Light, Medium and Heavy ones, putting all countries on a level-playing field, as some countries traditionally report monthly PC car sales only and other overall sales. The files released by the OICA (and linked to below) also feature Passenger Cars only and Commercial Vehicles only figures so you can see the split.

Beijing ChinaChina hits 23.5 million units in 2014, an all-time record for any single country.

For the 5th consecutive year, worldwide new vehicle sales hit an all-time record: up 3.2% on 2013 to 88.164.642 units. Previous all-time bests were 75.06 million (in 2010), 78.20 million (2011), 82.20 million (2012) and 85.47 million (2013), keeping worldwide sales on track to hit 90 million in 2015 and 100 million in 2017 potentially. Already the dominant region in the world, Asia/Oceania/Middle East is getting closer to accounting for half of worldwide new vehicle sales thanks to sales are up 5.1% to reach 42.65 million or 48% of the worldwide marketplace. Africa is the 2nd most dynamic region with sales up 3.3% to 1.56 million, America is up 1.8% to 25.48 million (NAFTA up 6.1% contrasting Central & South America down a harsh 11.1%), and finally Europe is up just 0.8% to 18.48 million, the region’s first year of growth since 2011.

London UKThe UK is the fastest-growing market in the Top 10. Photo © Matthew Roberts

Looking into the ranking by country, China continues to reign supreme, exploring new heights for any single market in the history of automobile: thanks to sales up 7% (still a very dynamic growth rate despite a lot of pessimistic analysts), China hits 23.5 million units and is still on track to reach 25 million this year. The USA impress with +6% to 16.8 million units and should in all likelihood get back above 17 million units for the first time since 2006 this year. Japan increases by 3% in third place (5.56 million) but Brazil (-7%), India (-2%) and most strikingly Russia (-15%) all lose ground in the Top 10. The UK continues to show insolent health: it is the fastest-growing market in the Top 10 in 2014 at +10% to 2.84 million units.

Halong Bay VietnamVietnam new vehicle sales are up a fantastic 38% in 2014. Photo © Badz Manaois

Rounding up the Top 10 is Canada with a record 1.89 million units, but the most significant breakout in 2014 is the return to shape of Iran: back up a spectacular 60% year-on-year to 1.29 million sales at #13 vs. 0.8 million and #20 in 2013. The record to beat for Iran is 1.69 million units in 2011. Other notable improvements – following the ranking order – include South Korea (+12%), Spain (+20%), Saudi Arabia (+10% to a record 833,711 sales), Egypt (+18%), Philippines (+27%), Czech Republic (+16%), Portugal (+36%) and Vietnam (+38%). At the other end of the scale, a few countries fall flat in 2014: the hardest hit at the top is Ukraine (-55%) leaving the Top 50, followed by Argentina (-36%) and Thailand (-33%).

Previous year (All data): World Full Year 2013: Total sales now available for 143 countries

Previous year (Top 20): World Full Year 2013 – The 20 biggest cars markets

Full Year 2014 Top 50 biggest car markets and data for 144 countries below.

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