General Car Facts & World Security Statistics [2022]

Overview

Global car sales are soaring high every year, and the demand for new vehicles will only go up. While pollution is a serious concern at the moment, electric vehicles (EVs) have emerged as a viable, future-proof solution. However, the demand for regular passenger cars and SUVs does not seem to decline anytime soon. The market hit a low point in 2020 owing to the pandemic, but looking at the 2021 figures, the future of the car industry looks stable and promising.

When you’re a car fanatic, it doesn’t hurt to know your facts correctly, so that you can make better and informed purchase decisions in the future.

US Car Statistics- Sale Data

• Electric cars were high in demand in 2020, and 1.9 million units were sold globally. 
• The total number of conventional cars sold in 2020 was 40.5 million. 
• As of the first quarter of 2021, the Toyota Camry remains the best-selling car in the US, with more than 1,77,000 units sold. 
• The best-selling electric vehicle of 2021 is the Tesla Model Y, selling more than 1,32,000 units as of now. 
• Despite a sharp 9% fall due to a shortage of microchips, the Ford F-Series is the highest-selling pickup truck lineup, selling more than 5,34,831 units as of now.

Car Ownership Statistics and Facts

• About 276 million vehicles were registered in the USA in 2019, out of which 17 million are light vehicles. 
• The three cities that have the highest number of registered vehicles are California, Texas, and Florida. 
• As of 2019, the largest vehicle registration per capita is witnessed by Delaware, Alabama, and Montana– 40 vehicles for every 100 citizens. 
• The lowest number of vehicles registered by population is witnessed in New York, Alaska, and Mississippi. 
• Raleigh in North Carolina has the most number of households with access to at least one vehicle. 

[Source: Statista & Valuepenguin]

SUV Statistics

• More than 1 million units of SUVs were sold solely in the first quarter of 2021, in the US. 
• The global market has 200 million SUVs in operation, as per the latest reports of 2019. 
• The global top-seller SUV is the Toyota RAV4, which has been sold more than 313,447 times in 2021 so far. 
• Approximately 8.8% of the total US light vehicle market is dominated by SUVs. 
• The widely expanding global market for SUVs is a contribution of the Jeep company, which came up with the first vehicle of this type back in 1945.

Car Safety Statistics & Data You Should Check Before Buying A Vehicle

Listed below are some of the top organizations responsible for rating vehicles according to their safety levels. When you look at the score assigned by these independent bodies, you will understand which car is the safest choice for you and your family, and you will be able to avoid investing in potentially risky or accident-prone vehicles.

The car safety statistics and data by the following institutions are a must-check:

IIHS

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) aims to cut down the number of deaths and injuries due to automobile accidents. IIHS evaluates the vehicles in two parameters, one is crashworthiness, and the other is crash avoidance and mitigation. The first point determines how well a vehicle is equipped to protect the driver and the passengers in case of a car crash, and the second point considers what technology has been added to the car to avoid any such situation.

NHTSA

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) keeps the safety of motor vehicles under observation and aims to prevent crashes and injuries. NHTSA is a regulatory body operating under the Department of Transportation, US Federal Government. The organization performs crash tests on vehicles to determine how they perform, and what safety equipment it has to protect the driver and passengers. The test scenarios include frontal crash, side barrier crash, side pole crash, and rollover resistance. The vehicles that perform well, get 5-Star safety ratings from NHTSA NCAP. 

JD Power

JD Power is a data and analytics company based in Michigan, USA. The company assigns dependability ratings to different classes of vehicles, after analyzing user reviews of new owners (90 days) and customer feedback of those who have been using the vehicle for a considerable amount of time (3 years). Consumers can also check the resale ratings and dealership service ratings before purchasing a vehicle.

Euro NCAP

Euro NCAP or European New Car Assessment Programme analyzes the safety of vehicles. Their assessment takes into consideration the adult occupant, child occupant, vulnerable users, and safety assist features. 5-star safety on their scale means top-quality performance, with excellent crash protection and crash avoidance mechanism.

What Are the Must-Have Safety Features in A Car?

No matter what type of vehicle it is, the presence of up-to-date security and safety features is a must. Here are some of the top features you have to check in your desired car.

Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)

Automatic emergency braking or AEB offers protection from a collision. When the driver is not taking any action to prevent a collision, this safety mechanism activates the brakes automatically. The AEB system consists of a series of equipment, including cameras and radar.

Introduced initially for luxury vehicles, AEB is now available for more or less every vehicle, irrespective of their price range or type. NHTSA and carmakers have agreed mutually that all vehicles in the US are required to have automatic emergency braking as a standard feature.

EBS

Electronic braking system or EBS is a safety feature that helps in maintaining stability at the time of emergency braking on slippery terrains. The EBS consists of pre-programmed sensors designed to prevent accidents. The predictive sensors can foretell a rollover, and it uses the brakes on the specific wheelset to prevent the rollover.

Airbags

Airbags act as a protective cushion during a collision or a crash, hence they are important safety equipment in modern cars. The airbags are not visible in general, but when the need arises, they inflate on their own to ensure the safety of the driver and the passengers. 

Blind Spot Monitoring

Blind spot monitoring is a safety mechanism that detects vehicles located at the side and back of your car. It consists of radar sensors placed on the side bumpers or rear mirrors. Sometimes this system is also equipped with rear cross-traffic alert. 

Lane Keep Assist

Lane Keep Assist consists of a mechanism that supplies torque to the steering wheel or puts pressure on the brakes to keep the vehicle on the right lane. The system includes cameras, radars, GPS and sensors, and actively prevents the vehicle from getting into an accident due to lane change.

Lane Departure Warning

The moment a vehicle is on the verge of shifting its traveling lane, this system gets activated and alarms the driver. The alerts can be visual or in the form of an audio. It works through the cameras attached to the car and is a helpful tool to prevent collision with another vehicle in the next lane.

Not all of these safety features are available as standard in all vehicles. Sometimes, you can add extra safety features to the available package for an extra fee, depending on which brand and model you are choosing. No matter what, do not compromise on safety, and keep your vehicle loaded with the high-tech safety mechanisms available.

General Car Facts and Statistics to Look for

Background research is the key characteristic of a smart buyer. Whether you are thinking of buying a new car, or you want to stay updated with the latest trends of the automotive market, these facts and statistical data will surely be helpful. The data will give you an insight into the current car market– the top-selling brands, models, average car usage, and more.

Which car was the most expensive in 2021?

The most expensive car that 2021 has seen is the 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO, priced at $70,000,000. In the SUV segment, the highest-priced vehicle is the Karlmann King, with a price tag of $380,000.

How can I find the specs of my own car?

When you’re buying a car, the main specs you should look for are engine type, engine size, displacement, BHP, torque, drive train, transmission, and safety features. Your car dealer’s official website should have the detailed information listed, and you can also check the car brand’s own website to get authentic information. And after purchasing the vehicle, you will receive a user manual, which will also contain the necessary information about the specs of that model.

How many personal cars are there by population?

According to Statista, a typical American household has 1.88 vehicles on average. To go by the reports of Value Penguin, 91.3% of Americans own at least one vehicle. 

Sales Performance by Brands

As of 2020, Ford, Toyota, and Chevrolet have been the top-seller car brands in the US, followed by Honda, Nissan, and Jeep. In the UK, the leading contenders for passenger cars in 2020 were Ford, Volkswagen, and BMW, followed by Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Vauxhall.

Global Sales Percentage by Country

China witnessed the highest number of car sales in 2020, with the number of newly registered vehicles being almost 25 million. Second to China is the US, where car sales were reported to be around 14.5 million. (Source: Statista)

Which are the top 10 countries producing cars?

Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d’Automobiles (OICA) is a global auto trade association. As per the reports of this organization, China is the top producer of cars in the world, with the number reaching approximately 25.72 million. The number includes both passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles. After China, the top car producers are the United States, Japan, Germany, India, Mexico, South Korea, Brazil, Spain, and France. 

How are global sales performing around the world?

Due to the pandemic, the sale of cars went down drastically in 2020, when the global valuation of the SUV market stood at $2925 million (approx.). It is expected to grow rapidly in the coming decades.  A total of 63.8 million units of cars were sold globally in 2020, a steep downgrade from the record sale of 74.9 million units in 2019. The number is expected to reach 71 million in 2021.

Conclusion

While the number of car users is growing by leaps and bounds every year, car manufacturers are also introducing new and improved safety and security features to protect their customers. As a responsible consumer, it’s always a good idea to do some background checks of the vehicle you’re purchasing, look at its safety ratings, number of sales, and compare with competitors. With hundreds of brands competing with each other to grab your attention, it’s up to you to choose a brand and a model that offers nothing less than a steal deal, while keeping your comfort, safety, and budget in mind.