Mathilde Carlier
Research Expert covering transportation and logistics
Car purchasing experience in Europe - Statistics & Facts
German consumers were the biggest group of car buyers in Europe. In 2017, the number of new car registrations in Europe amounted to 18.1 million, with Germany accounting for more than 20 percent of all new registrations. On average, buying a passenger car in the EU28 cost consumers 28,855 euros. Denmark was the most expensive country for these purchases within the EU28, although the country ranked below Norway and Switzerland. In the second half of 2018, the most commonly bought model in Europe was the VW Golf at 189,371 units sold.
Out of consumers in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, Belgians were the most likely to acquire a vehicle the same day they were visiting the dealership, although the share of those waiting roughly a month was still higher at 35 percent. By comparison, Italians took the longest time to consider purchases, with more than half of respondents needing around a month.
Of that same group, Belgians were also the most interested in the possibility of buying a car online without visiting a dealership. This might be due to a lack of availability/stock at dealerships, which was the second most common factor Belgian consumers stated as least enjoyable about their dealership experience.
Regarding interest in specific features, more than half of respondents in the aforementioned European countries were interested in vehicles, which were able to self-diagnose problems and book service appointments. Germany proved to be the exception, with only 44 percent reporting such an interest. German consumers mostly had a good relationship with car dealers, with 70 percent reporting they enjoyed the good deal they were able to make when purchasing a car through dealerships.
Out of consumers in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, Belgians were the most likely to acquire a vehicle the same day they were visiting the dealership, although the share of those waiting roughly a month was still higher at 35 percent. By comparison, Italians took the longest time to consider purchases, with more than half of respondents needing around a month.
Of that same group, Belgians were also the most interested in the possibility of buying a car online without visiting a dealership. This might be due to a lack of availability/stock at dealerships, which was the second most common factor Belgian consumers stated as least enjoyable about their dealership experience.
Regarding interest in specific features, more than half of respondents in the aforementioned European countries were interested in vehicles, which were able to self-diagnose problems and book service appointments. Germany proved to be the exception, with only 44 percent reporting such an interest. German consumers mostly had a good relationship with car dealers, with 70 percent reporting they enjoyed the good deal they were able to make when purchasing a car through dealerships.
