Industry Statistics and Trends
Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Europe key trends
The easing of the semiconductor shortage boosts sales.
After a prolonged shortage of semiconductors, car wholesalers and retailers are starting to reduce their backorders, with a large growth in car sales across Europe.
Electric vehicles will continue to grow in number.
Stringent emissions regulations like low and zero emission zones encourage the uptake of electric vehicles.
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Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Europe
Industry Revenue
Total value and annual change from 2012-2030. Includes 5-year outlook.
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Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Europe market size (2020-2025)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.6 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €1.5tr in 2025.
Trends and Insights
New car sales recover after a dip caused by semiconductor shortages
- European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) data reveals that new car registrations declined for three consecutive years through 2022 across the EU, EFTA and UK. Carmakers were plagued with a lack of components, stemming from a shortage of semiconductors, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and temporary factory closures in China. The supply issues drove a substantial number of vehicles on backorder, with the Volkswagen Group claiming to have over a million cars on backorder in Europe at the beginning of 2023. A shortage of semiconductors forced car dealers to miss delivery deadlines. As a result, companies suffered lost revenue and damaged relationships with customers and dealers.
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Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Europe outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Emission-cutting policies will become widespread across Europe
- The EU aims for a 100% cut in car carbon dioxide emissions by 2035 as part of broader efforts to lower transport pollution. The vast majority of European countries have signed COP26’s declaration that 100% of new car sales should be zero-emission, with Russia opting not to sign the agreement. Russia, instead, targets electric vehicles to account for 10% of domestically produced vehicles by 2030. The EU’s target is on its way to being met – according to the European Commission, average CO2 emissions from new passenger cars dropped about 1.4%. Major European markets are continuing to expand electric vehicle (EV) registrations, especially Germany, France and Norway, which together accounted for about 54% of all new BEV registrations among the EU countries in 2023, according to the European Environment Agency.
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Revenue
€1.5tr
Employees
2m
Wages
€XX.Xbn
European Leaders & Laggards
Top 5 Countries
- Switzerland +8.1%
- Serbia +6.3%
- Turkey +6.3%
- Romania +5.0%
- Finland +4.6%
Bottom 5 Countries
- Spain -3.3%
- Germany -0.8%
- Slovakia -0.2%
- Luxembourg -0.2%
- Bulgaria -0.2%
* CAGR values are for the years 2020-2025.
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Biggest companies in the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Europe
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (€m)
2025 | Profit (€m)
2025 | Profit Margin (%)
2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Volkswagen AG | 328,500.0 | 22,800.0 | 6.9 | |
Stellantis NV | 211,846.0 | 35,793.0 | 16.9 | |
Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA | 393,622.8 | 29,521.7 | 7.5 |
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Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Europe
Products & Services Segmentation
Industry revenue broken down by key product and services lines.
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Top Questions Answered in this Report
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What is the market size of the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing industry in Europe in 2025?
The market size of the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing industry in Europe is €1.5tr in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing industry in Europe in 2025?
There are 372k businesses in the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing industry in Europe, which has grown at a CAGR of 3.4 % between 2020 and 2025.
Has the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing industry in Europe grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing industry in Europe has been growing at a CAGR of 1.6 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing industry in Europe over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing industry in Europe is expected to grow.
What does the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing industry in Europe include?
Diesel vehicles and Petrol vehicles are part of the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing industry in Europe.
Which countries have the most businesses in the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing industry in Europe?
The European country with the most businesses in the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing industry is Turkey.
How competitive is the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing industry in Europe?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing industry in Europe.
Related Industries
This industry is covered in 37 countries
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Greece
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Romania
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in the UK
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Norway
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Germany
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Estonia
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Iceland
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Europe
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Austria
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in France
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in the Netherlands
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Belgium
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Cyprus
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Lithuania
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Finland
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Bulgaria
- New Car & Light Motor Vehicle Dealers in the UK
- Used Car & Light Motor Vehicle Dealers in the UK
- Other Motor Vehicle Sales in the UK
- Other Motor Vehicle Sales in Germany
- Car & Light Motor Vehicle Dealers in Germany
- Motor Vehicle Dealers in Ireland
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Spain
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Portugal
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Hungary
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Czechia
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Turkey
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Serbia
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Switzerland
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Denmark
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Ireland
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Malta
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Luxembourg
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Russia
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Italy
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Poland
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Slovakia
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Slovenia
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Sweden
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Latvia
- Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Croatia
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Companies in this industry sell new and used cars. The industry includes retailers (which sell directly to consumers) and wholesalers (which sell to car dealers). Passenger motor vehicles and specialised motor vehicles fall under this industry.
Related Terms
LIGHT MOTOR VEHICLESPORTS UTILITY VEHICLEALTERNATIVELY FUELLED VEHICLEWhat's included in this industry?
Diesel vehiclesPetrol vehiclesElectric vehiclesCommercial vehiclesCompanies
Volkswagen AGStellantis NVToyota Motor Europe NV/SAIndustry Code
451 - Sale of motor vehicles in Europe
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Performance
Key Takeaways
New car sales recover after a dip caused by semiconductor shortages
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Revenue Highlights
Trends
- Revenue
- 2025 Revenue Growth
- Revenue Volatility
Employment Highlights
Trends
- Employees
- Employees per Business
- Revenue per Employee
Business Highlights
Trends
- Businesses
- Employees per Business
- Revenue per Business
Profit Highlights
Trends
- Total Profit
- Profit Margin
- Profit per Business
Current Performance
Charts
- Revenue in the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
- Employees in the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
- Business in the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
- Profit in the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
Analysis
What's driving current industry performance in the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Europe industry?
Outlook
Analysis
What's driving the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Europe industry outlook?
Volatility
Analysis
What influences volatility in the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Europe industry?
Charts
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth Matrix
Life Cycle
Analysis
What determines the industry life cycle stage in the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Europe industry?
Charts
- Industry Life Cycle Matrix
Products and Markets
Highlights
Trends
- Largest Market
- Product Innovation
Key Takeaways
Commercial vehicles are increasingly electric battery powered. Fleet managers are raising the number of electric vehicles in their fleet to reduce emissions and lower fuel costs.
Products and Services
Charts
- Products and Services Segmentation
Analysis
How are the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Europe industry's products and services performing?
Analysis
What are innovations in the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Europe industry's products and services?
Major Markets
Charts
- Major Market Segmentation
Analysis
What influences demand in the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Europe industry?
International Trade
Highlights
- Largest Importer
- Smallest Importer
- Total Imports into Europe
- Largest Exporter
- Smallest Exporter
- Total Exports into Europe
Heat maps
- Industry Concentration of Imports by Country
- Industry Concentration of Exports by Country
Data Tables
Value and annual change (%) included
- Number of Imports and Exports by European Country (2025)
Geographic Breakdown
Business Locations
Heat maps
- Share of Total Industry Revenue by Region (2025)
- Share of Total Industry Enterprises by Region (2025)
- Share of Total Industry Employment by Region (2025)
- Share of Total Industry Wages by Region (2025)
Industry Geographic Breakdown
Data Tables
Values and annual change provided for 37 European countries:
- Revenue (2025)
- IVA (2025)
- Enterprises (2025)
- Employment (2025)
- Exports (2025)
- Imports (2025)
Competitive Forces
Highlights
Trends
- Concentration
- Competition
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer Power
- Supplier Power
Key Takeaways
The industry is concentrated at the continental level. While a few companies like Volkswagen, Renault and BMW boast a substantial market share in Europe, there are regional variations in concentration; for example, Lada dominates the Russian car market.
Supply Chain
Charts
Buyer and supply industries
Companies
Market Share
Charts
- Industry Market Share by Company (2020-2025)
Companies
Data Tables
Top 10 companies by market share:
- Market share (2025)
- Revenue (2025)
- Profit (2025)
- Profit Margin (2025)
Data Tables
- Countries of operation for Volkswagen AG
- Countries of operation for Stellantis NV
- Countries of operation for Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA
- Countries of operation for Hyundai Motor Company
- Countries of operation for Mercedes Benz AG
- Countries of operation for Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
- Countries of operation for Renault SA
- Countries of operation for Ford Motor Company
- Countries of operation for Kia Corporation
- Countries of operation for Honda Motor Company
External Environment
Highlights
Trends
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key Takeaways
Future bans on new petrol and diesel car sales intensify. The UK and the EU will effectively ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 and 2035, respectively, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
External Drivers
Analysis
What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Europe industry?
Financial Benchmarks
Highlights
Trends
- Profit Margin
- Average Wage
- Largest Cost
Key Takeaways
Improved supply and new strategies boost car dealer profitability. With semiconductor shortages easing, dealers now focus on higher profit per sale, better customer retention and electric vehicle offerings, making profit consistently above the average of other industries.
Cost Structure
Charts
- Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
-
Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
- Marketing
- Depreciation
- Profit
- Purchases
- Wages
- Rent
- Utilities
- Other
Analysis
What trends impact cost in the Motor Vehicle Wholesaling & Retailing in Europe industry?
Key Ratios
Data tables
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
Country Benchmarks
European Leaders & Laggards
Data Tables
Top and bottom five countries listed for each:
- Revenue Growth (2025)
- Business Growth (2025)
- Job Growth (2025)
European Country Performance
Data Tables
Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:
- IVA/Revenue (2025)
- Imports/Demand (2025)
- Exports/Revenue (2025)
- Revenue per Employee (2025)
- Wages/Revenue (2025)
- Employees per Establishment (2025)
- Average Wage (2025)
Structural Comparison
Data Tables
Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe
- Concentration
- Competition
- Barriers to Entry
- Buyer Power
- Supplier Power
- Volatility
- Capital Intensity
- Innovation
- Life Cycle
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Methodology
Where does IBISWorld source its data?
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Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and IBISWorld's proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
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