Peak in car exports in 2022

In 2022, the EU exported €158 billion worth of cars, which was €8 billion more than the previous peak of €150 billion in 2015. Imports in 2022 amounted to €62 billion, giving the EU a trade surplus of €96 billion.

Source dataset: DS-018995

The value of extra-EU trade in cars increased by an average of 3.8% per year between 2002 and 2022, with imports (4.4%) growing faster than exports (3.6%).

Key trade partners for trade in cars

In 2022, the United States was the main export destination of EU cars (23% of the total), ahead of the United Kingdom (17%), China (15%), South Korea and Switzerland (both 5%), Japan and Türkiye (both 4%). These seven partners made up almost three-quarters (73%) of extra-EU exports of cars.

Source dataset: DS-018995

China and the United Kingdom (both 15%) were the main origin of extra-EU imports, ahead of the United States (14%), South Korea (13%), Japan (12%), Türkiye (10%) and Mexico (8%). Together, the top seven made up 88% of all extra-EU imports of cars.