All is not lost for estate cars. The latest global sales figures for 2023 indicate that demand has increased, despite the continuing rise in SUV volumes and lack of consumer interest in China and the USA. Are we heading for a new trend for these cars? What lies behind such growth? Let's start with the good news.
Worldwide sales of estate cars increased by 12% between 2022 and 2023, from 1.42 to 1.59 million units.
This is certainly a positive result, especially when compared with the performance of hatchbacks, which grew by just 1%. The result is even more remarkable when you consider that this type of car is mainly sold in Europe. In fact, 69% of estate or station wagon sales last year took place in Europe, where volumes rose by 15%.
Still seen as useful, for example in Italy, estates still play an important role in countries such as the Czech Republic, where they have the highest market share of car sales , at almost 20%. They are followed by Germany, Hungary, Sweden, Slovakia, Finland, Austria, Poland, Serbia and Estonia. Estate cars, on the other hand, are in a bit of a bind.
Although sales are up on 2022, total volume is down 2% on 2021 and 13% on 2020, when global markets were hit by the pandemic. Last year's recovery was mainly due to higher-than-expected sales of Volkswagen Group estate cars in Europe, strong sales from the Renault Group, supported by the Dacia Jogger, and, to a lesser extent, the strong position of the Subaru Outback in the US and the arrival of Chin.