America is Not the Biggest SUV Buyers, Another Country Holds That Distinction

If you had to guess which country buys the most SUVs, America should be top of any lists right? Wrong, the US is a close second when going by 2019 sales figures.

The United States is the second largest automotive market, 3.8 million SUVs were sold in the first half of 2019 – according to sales data from Statista. The SUV market in the US is dominated by American brands such as Ford, Chevrolet, and Jeep.

Why are SUVs so popular in the US?

Sports utility vehicles remain a popular choice in the US due to their versatility, spaciousness, and powerful engines. Some US states such as California are offering incentives to encourage electric SUV drivers, which is likely to increase the number of electric SUVs purchased in the US.

The number #1 SUV buyers are from China

China has been the world’s largest automotive market since 2009, and in the first half of 2019, around 4.7 million new SUVs were bought. Chinese automakers – SAIC Motor, Dongfeng, FAW and Chang’an – have been focusing on producing more SUV.

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To meet the demand, Chinese auto companies are now producing some of the most popular SUVs in the world. Chinese buyers have favored sport utility vehicles due to their relatively low prices, spacious interiors, and powerful engines.

Statista’s SUV sales figures by country in 2019

Here are Statista’s worldwide SUV sales data ranked by the number of units sold in each country.

1. China – 4.7 million
2. United States – 3.8 million
3. Germany – 576 thousand
4. United Kingdom – 518 thousand
5. Canada – 444 thousand
6. Italy – 438 thousand
7. France – 433 thousand
8. India – 387 thousand
9. Russia – 352 thousand
10. Spain – 314 thousand

Frequently asked questions worldwide sales data