This article appears to be slanted towards recent events.(April 2024) |
The A-segment is the first category in the passenger car classification system defined by the European Commission. It is used for city cars, the smallest category of passenger cars defined. [1] [2] [3]
A-segment sales represent approximately 7–8% of the market in 2010s. [4] [5] [6] It is approximately equivalent to the kei car class in Japan.
As of 2021, the A-segment category size spans from approximately 2.7 metres (110 in) to 3.7 metres (150 in).[ citation needed ]
Body styles for A-segment cars in Europe are always hatchbacks. But as crossovers gain popularity, new models may shift to resemble crossovers. Such examples are the Suzuki Ignis and the Toyota Aygo X. Other body styles such as sedans are not present in this segment because these shapes largely prove impractical at typical A-segment dimensions.
In 2020 the ten highest selling A-segment cars in Europe were Fiat Panda, Fiat 500, Toyota Aygo, Renault Twingo, Volkswagen Up!, Hyundai i10, Kia Picanto, Peugeot 108, Citroën C1 and Suzuki Ignis. [7]
100,000 - 200,000 sales(Best-Selling)
50,000 - 100,000 sales
10,000 - 50,000 sales
2021 rank | Brand | Model | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | % change (2020–2021) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Fiat | Panda | 152,727 | 152,045 | 171,377 | 190,432 | 187,049 | 168,094 | 184,027 | 145,907 | 175,950 | +25% |
2 | Fiat | 500 (2007) | 158,918 | 180,403 | 180,005 | 183,194 | 189,360 | 188,448 | 175,017 | 141,313 | 131,723 | -10% |
3 | Toyota | Aygo | 57,002 | 68,874 | 86,085 | 84,321 | 84,588 | 92,187 | 99,510 | 82,711 | 82,820 | 0% |
4 | Volkswagen | Up! | 130,039 | 124,845 | 105,348 | 96,836 | 100,715 | 97,366 | 80,048 | 59,578 | 69,400 | +16% |
5 | Kia | Picanto | 50,524 | 51,222 | 54,036 | 54,982 | 62,161 | 74,526 | 74,305 | 49,211 | 59,949 | +22% |
6 | Renault | Twingo | 78,432 | 81,574 | 95,808 | 84,766 | 77,326 | 86,221 | 87,383 | 73,345 | 58,161 | -21% |
7 | Hyundai | i10 | 60,324 | 80,819 | 86,004 | 85,385 | 90,603 | 83,102 | 78,791 | 50,233 | 56,074 | +12% |
8 | Suzuki | Ignis | - | - | - | 1,602 | 41,166 | 43,774 | 38,091 | 37,568 | 42,206 | +12% |
9 | Citroën | C1 | 56,722 | 53,518 | 63,695 | 62,537 | 53,292 | 52,020 | 49,900 | 40,578 | 35,897 | -12% |
10 | Peugeot | 108 | - | 31,087 | 68,522 | 63,561 | 55,831 | 57,257 | 54,230 | 43,629 | 34,689 | -20% |
11 | Mitsubishi | Mirage/Space Star | 13,978 | 22,008 | 29,547 | 27,386 | 30,016 | 36,105 | 38,002 | 35,703 | 32,662 | -9% |
12 | Smart | Fortwo | 65,226 | 52,059 | 57,056 | 69,169 | 65,800 | 62,361 | 77,766 | 19,576 | 26,869 | +37% |
13 | Dacia | Spring | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1,724 | 25,740 | +1,393% |
14 | SEAT | Mii | 28,608 | 24,865 | 24,298 | 19,882 | 15,412 | 13,031 | 12,641 | 7,790 | 9,428 | +21% |
15 | Smart | Forfour | 3,757 | 39,543 | 37,133 | 34,253 | 34,975 | 36,736 | 7,640 | 8,823 | +15% | |
16 | Škoda | Citigo | 44,851 | 40,616 | 38,735 | 38,664 | 35,698 | 36,450 | 30,786 | 14,120 | 5,264 | -63% |
17 | Renault | Kwid | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 65 | 439 | +575% |
18 | Suzuki | Celerio | - | 894 | 25,393 | 26,465 | 23,417 | 20,836 | 13,275 | 2,035 | 16 | -99% |
19 | Citroën | C-Zero | - | - | 1,075 | 1,780 | 1,105 | 1,247 | 980 | 1,839 | 14 | -99% |
20 | Peugeot | iOn | - | - | 1,461 | 1,881 | 1,544 | 1,651 | 865 | 333 | 4 | -99% |
Citroën | E-Mehari | - | - | - | 569 | 353 | 321 | 154 | 78 | - | ||
Mitsubishi | i-MiEV | - | - | 714 | 484 | 447 | 325 | 171 | 57 | - | ||
Opel/Vauxhall | Adam | 45,756 | 54,207 | 55,278 | 52,938 | 48,181 | 41,817 | 31,129 | 5 | - | ||
Mitsubishi | Attrage | - | - | 352 | 168 | 114 | 62 | 88 | 1 | - | ||
Opel/Vauxhall | Karl/Viva | - | - | 28,607 | 57,458 | 49,516 | 48,292 | 47,504 | 0 | - | ||
DR Automobiles | Zero | - | - | - | 261 | 174 | - | - | 0 | - | ||
Lancia/Chrysler | Ypsilon | 57,613 | 62,807 | 59,501 | 66,941 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
Ford | Ka | 50,012 | 52,854 | 48,368 | 21,333 | 204 | 16 | - | - | - | ||
Peugeot | 107 | 55,244 | 24,356 | 88 | 5 | 1 | 2 | - | - | - | ||
Chevrolet | Spark | 37,268 | 10,138 | 479 | 96 | 2 | 3 | - | - | - | ||
Suzuki | Alto | 26,821 | 26,876 | 5,710 | 4 | 2 | - | - | - | - | ||
Suzuki | Splash | 15,563 | 13,232 | 2,663 | 11 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
Opel/Vauxhall | Agila | 14,020 | 12,200 | 2,054 | 19 | 1 | - | - | - | - | ||
Toyota | iQ | 5,462 | 3,593 | 292 | 172 | 2 | 3 | - | - | - | ||
Tata | Indica | 345 | 52 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | |||
Nissan | Pixo | 3,321 | 131 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
DR Automobiles | DR1 | 21 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
Daihatsu | Cuore/Charade | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
Volkswagen | Fox | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
Abarth | 500 | - | - | - | - | 18,499 | 20,570 | 19,157 | - | - | ||
Segment total | 1,208,431 | 1,229,352 | 1,332,146 | 1,330,438 | 1,266,832 | 1,261,062 | 1,230,556 | 814,974 | 856,129 | -5% | ||
Source | [8] | [9] | [10] | [11] | [12] | [13] | [14] | [15] | [16] |
Year | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 [16] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Share | 8.1% | 8% | 7.7% | 6.8% | 7.3% |
2019 - In 2019, sales of minicars were down 2% compared to a total market gain of 1% which means this segment now makes up 7.7% of the total European car market at 1.21 million sales, down from 8% in 2018. And with margins on minicars under pressure due to increased costs to comply with stricter safety and emissions standards, manufacturers are scaling back investments in to minicars or switching to an EV-only strategy. [17]
In Italy, A-segment cars represented 16.4% of car sales in the first half of 2019. [18]
2020 - European sales of minicars were down by a third in 2020, which translates to nearly 400,000 fewer sales and means the segment loses market share as the overall market is down 24%. As a result, this segment now makes up 6.8% of the total European car market, down from 7.7% last year. And their share is expected to shrink further in coming years, as manufacturers are pulling out of this segment or switching their models to EV-only. This is a result of increasing costs to comply with stricter safety and especially emissions standards, which makes minicars nearly unprofitable, especially considering that for most models from European brands this is the only market. [19]
In the United States, minicar segment cars represented 0.5% of the market share.
In 2020 the highest selling minicar segment cars in the U.S. were the Chevrolet Spark, Mitsubishi Mirage and Mini Cooper. [20]
In India, historically the A-segment cars had the highest sales. Sales have been in decline in recent years, [21] falling from 70,000 sales per month in 2014 to 47,000 sales per month in 2016. [22]
As of 2019, several A-segment cars had successes outside Europe, such as Hyundai Grand i10, Honda Brio, Kia Picanto, Tata Tiago, Toyota Wigo, Suzuki Celerio, Suzuki Wagon R, Suzuki/Maruti Alto, Ford Figo, Smart ForTwo, Citroën C1, Peugeot 108, and modern Fiat 500.
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The Hyundai Atos(Korean: 현대 아토스) is a city car that was produced by the South Korean manufacturer Hyundai from 1997 until 2014. It was also marketed under the Atoz, Amica and Santro model names. From 1999, the Atos with a different rear fascia and restyled rear side doors is marketed as the Atos Prime and in South Korea and Indonesia as the Kia Visto. It has been available only with a five-door hatchback body style.
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The Kia Picanto is a city car that has been produced by the South Korean car manufacturer, Kia, since 2003. Other names of the car include Kia Morning in South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Chile, Kia EuroStar in Taiwan, Kia New Morning in Vietnam and the Naza Suria or Naza Picanto in Malaysia. The Picanto is primarily manufactured at the Donghee joint-venture plant in Seosan, South Korea, though some countries locally assemble complete knock-down versions of the car.
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The B-segment is the second smallest of the European segments for passenger cars, between the A-segment and C-segment, and commonly described as "small cars". The B-segment is the largest segment in Europe by volume, accounting for 20 percent of total car sales in 2020 according to JATO Dynamics.
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In Europe, the "city car" is a well-understood concept
(City cars) are meant to be cheap, small, easy to park and yet practical, with good manners on the open road