Although we already have our sights set on the novelties that will arrive in 2023, we cannot ignore what happened in the market in 2022. The rules are changing and not exclusively because of the sustainable future towards which mobility is heading, but because of the arrival of new players to the game. And it is that there is a country that has imposed its law in 2022: 47% of the cars launched worldwide have its stamp.
In engine1with the help of JATO Dynamics (the provider of complete databases of the motor world), have analyzed all the new models that have landed on the market throughout 2022. The result is a report that includes vehicles of all markets, without taking into account the prototypes, the restyling or the cars that have been rebadged.
with chinese seal
A total of 131 new vehicles were presented last year: 47% of them had a Chinese manufacturer behind them. The study reveals that the aforementioned country is responsible for 62 of the novelties that we have seen in 2022: this means that, on average, five new cars have been launched per month. SAIC is the manufacturer that has introduced the most models to the market with ten launches: followed by Geely (eight) and Great Wall (six).
These figures reinforce the trend that has been observed since 2021: That year, according to data from the International Organization of Automobile Manufacturers (OICA), 26,082,220 million vehicles were produced in China (21,407,962 million passenger cars and 4,674,258 million commercial vehicles). Or what is the same: one in three models manufactured in the world originated in this Asian country. In 2022 the progression has continued and in 2023 it does not seem that it will change course.
Toyota’s leadership
If we filter the results by brands, Toyota rises to the lead: joining Lexus and Daihatsu, it is the group that presented the most models in 2022, with eleven pitches which include four SUVs, three sedans, three minivans and one urban. It is, by the way, the same number of novelties that he signed in 2021. He is accompanied on the podium by SAIC (ten vehicles: six SUVs, two sedans, a compact and a minivan) and General Motors (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC), also with ten models.
Next is Honda with eight new cars, and Stellantis, which is the European group with the largest number of presentations (6): the study points out that they have not included the Maserati GranTurismo because the interiors have not yet been revealed. Volkswagen also added six models, followed by BMW and Mercedes with four new products each and, finally, Suzuki, Ford and Hyundai with three.
SUV dominance persists
The analysis also sets the focus on the segments: as expected, SUVs also take over the news. So much so that 51% of the vehicles we met in 2022 were of this type: SAIC, Geely, Honda and Stellantis are the ones that set the pace.
The saloons They are still alive thanks to the demand of the Chinese market: of the 23 novelties, twelve have been exclusive to China. Something similar happens with minivans: half of the 16 launches will not leave the aforementioned Asian country. Logical if we take into account the drop in sales of these cars in Europe and North America.
