U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Vehicle Technologies Office

Fact #601: December 14, 2009
World Motor Vehicle Production

The number of vehicles produced, including cars, trucks, and buses, has risen substantially from 1950 to 2008. In 1950, the majority of the vehicles were produced in the U.S. and Western Europe. In 2008, Japan, China, and other countries around the world produce the majority of vehicles. The U.S. share of world vehicle production declined to 12.5% in 2008.

World Motor Vehicle Production, 1950-2008
Graph showing the world vehicle production for the U.S., Canada, Western Europe, Japan, China, and other. The majority of vehicles that were once produced in the U.S. are now produced in Japan, China, and other countries around the world. For more detailed information, see the table below.

Supporting Information

World Vehicle Production (Thousands)
Year United States Canada Western Europe Japan China Other World Total U.S. Share
1950 8.01 0.39 1.99 0.03 * 0.16 10.58 75.7%
1955 9.20 0.45 3.74 0.07 * 0.16 13.63 67.5%
1960 7.91 0.40 6.84 0.48 * 0.87 16.49 47.9%
1965 11.14 0.85 9.58 1.88 * 0.83 24.27 45.9%
1970 8.28 1.16 13.05 5.29 * 1.64 29.42 28.2%
1975 8.99 1.39 13.58 6.94 * 2.21 33.11 27.1%
1980 8.01 1.32 15.50 11.04 0.14 2.55 38.57 20.8%
1985 11.65 1.93 16.11 12.27 0.44 2.50 44.91 25.9%
1990 9.78 1.93 18.87 13.49 0.51 3.99 48.56 20.1%
1995 11.99 2.41 17.05 10.20 1.43 6.91 49.98 24.0%
2000 12.77 2.96 16.75 10.15 2.07 12.73 57.43 22.2%
2005 11.95 2.69 16.81 10.78 5.67 17.88 65.77 18.2%
2008 8.67 2.08 15.31 11.56 9.51 22.26 69.40 12.5%

* Data for China before 1980 are not available.
Source: Ward's Automotive Group, Ward's Motor Vehicle Facts and Figures 2009, Southfield, MI, 2009.

 

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