In 2024, the EU exported 5.4 million cars and imported 4.0 million cars. Compared with 2019, the number of exported cars dropped by 13.2% while the number of imported cars decreased by 3.0%.
Measured in value, in 2024, the EU exported €165.2 billion worth of cars and imported €75.9 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of €89.3 billion. Compared with 2019, exports rose by 17.7% (+€24.8 billion), and imports increased by 20.0% (+€12.7 billion).
The decreased number of exported and imported cars, along with the increased trade values, reflect the rise in prices between 2019 and 2024.
Source dataset: ds-045409 - number of cars and value
In 2024, the United States and the United Kingdom were the top destinations for EU car exports, with €38.9 and €34.3 billion, respectively. China followed with €14.5 billion, then Türkiye with €12.0 billion and Switzerland with €8.5 billion.
Looking at the top export partners between 2019 and 2024, the EU saw the biggest increase in car exports to Türkiye, rising by 364.1%. In contrast, exports to China experienced the largest drop, decreasing by 22.3%.
Source dataset: ds-045409
For car imports to the EU, China and Japan were the biggest suppliers, with €12.7 billion and €12.3 billion, respectively. The United Kingdom came third with €11.0 billion, followed by Türkiye with €9.1 billion and the United States with €8.4 billion.
From 2019 to 2024, the EU experienced the most significant rise in car imports from China, with an increase of 1591.3%. On the other hand, imports from the United Kingdom saw the largest decline, falling by 17.1%.
Source: Eurostat, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/product?code=ddn-20250401-1
