In 2022, 131 new cars were presented or launched. The count excludes rebadged, facelifted and concept models, but includes all production cars presented to the public worldwide.
The most interesting thing about this balance is that new cars produced by Chinese manufacturers represent 47 percent of the total.
Calculations from January 1, 2022 show that 62 new models have arrived from China, with an average of five new vehicles per month. SAIC is the manufacturer that has introduced the most innovations to the market, with 10 different new models. Here are Geely with eight models and Great Wall with six debuts.
Toyota Leads
Toyota is the group that launched the most vehicles in 2022. The Japanese company has actually launched 11 new models which include four SUVs, three sedans, three MPVs and one city car. This number is the same as the new cars launched by Toyota in 2021, again under the Toyota, Lexus and Daihatsu brands.
Second is SAIC with a total of 10 new models divided between six SUVs, two sedans, one five-door hatchback and one MPV. General Motors also came in at number 10, thanks to the Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC brands. Next is Honda with eight new cars which include the new generation Accord, CR-V and Pilot.
Stellantis is the European group with the most number of debuts. Alfa Romeo Tonale, Citroen C4 X, Fiat Fastback, Jeep Avenger, Maserati Grecale and Peugeot 408 are among them, but the new Maserati GranTurismo is excluded because the interior has not yet been revealed. Volkswagen also made six debuts including an Audi for China, a Skoda Enyaq Coupé, two VWs for China, a new Amarok and ID.Buzz. Further back we find BMW and Mercedes-Benz with four new products each and then Suzuki, Ford and Hyundai with three new products.
67 Is an SUV
As expected, SUVs continued to dominate the debut list, achieving a 51 percent share of new cars launched in 2022. Manufacturers such as SAIC, Geely, Honda and Stellantis dominate this ranking.
Even more discrete is the new sedan, a four-door sedan that has survived above all thanks to demand from the Chinese market. Overall, 23 sedans will be presented in 2022 and 12 of them will be available only in China.
A little surprising, there are 16 new MPVs in 2022 even though sales of minivans and MPVs in Europe and North America have decreased. Like the sedan, half of these new models will not leave the Chinese market.
Rounding out the stats are eight new city cars, seven pickups, six sedans and four sports cars which include the new Ford Mustang, GAC Aion Hyper SSR, Pagani Utopia and Rolls-Royce Spectre.
The author of the article, Felipe Munoz, is an Automotive Industry Specialist at JATO Dynamics.
