A-segment

The A-segment is a category in the passenger car classification system defined by the European Commission. It is used for city cars, the smallest category of passenger cars defined.[1] In Europe the term city car is also used.[2][3]

"City car" redirects here. For the urban electric car, see CityCar.
2011-present Volkswagen Up!
2005 Renault Twingo
1970 Fiat 500


History

The popularity of the segment increased in the late 1950s, due to the introduction of the Fiat 500 in 1957 and the BMC Mini in 1959.

As of 2017, 2018 and 2019, A-segment sales account for 8.1%, 8% and 7.7 market share in Europe respectively. [4]

Sales of models in previous years

In 2018 the ten highest selling A-segment cars in Europe were the Fiat 500, Fiat Panda, Volkswagen Up!, Toyota Aygo, Renault Twingo, Hyundai i10, Kia Picanto, Smart Fortwo, Peugeot 108 and Citroën C1. [5]

In 2019 the ten highest selling A-segment cars in Europe were the Fiat Panda, Fiat 500, Toyota Aygo, Renault Twingo, Volkswagen Up!, Hyundai i10, Smart Fortwo, Kia Picanto, Peugeot 108, and Citroën C1. [6]

Sales of current models

As of the 2020 Q1-Q3 ten highest selling A-segment cars in Europe were the Fiat Panda, Fiat 500, Toyota Aygo, Renault Twingo, Volkswagen Up!, Kia Picanto, Hyundai i10, Peugeot 108, Citroën C1 and Mitsubishi Space Star / Mirage. [7]

Market share in Europe

European sales of minicars were down 39% in the first three quarters of 2020, compared to a total market loss of 28%, which means this segment now makes up 6.7% of the total European car market, down from 7.9% last year. And their share is expected to shrink further in coming years, as manufacturers are pulling out of this segment or switching their models to EV-only. This is a result of increasing costs to comply with stricter safety and especially emissions standards, which makes minicars nearly unprofitable, especially considering that for most models from European brands this is the only market.

In Italy, A-segment cars represented 14.9% of car sales in the first half of 2018.[8]

Market share in other countries

In the United States, minicar segment cars represented 0.5% of the market share.

In 2020 the highest selling minicar segment cars in USA were the Chevrolet Spark, Mitsubishi Mirage, Mini Cooper and Fiat 500.[9]

With the minicar segment in decline even in its “home market” Europe, and just irrelevant sales in the United States, the future is uncertain for this type of vehicle.


In India, historically the A-segment cars had the highest sales. However, sales have been in decline in recent years,[10] falling from 70,000 sales per month in 2014 to 47,000 sales per month in 2016.[11]


As of 2019, only few A-segment cars had successes outside Europe, such as Hyundai Grand i10, Honda Brio, Kia Picanto, Suzuki Celerio (also sold under Maruti brand), Ford Figo, smart fortwo, Citroen C1, Peugeot 108, and modern Fiat 500.


See also

References
  1. "European classification for vehicle category, based in UNECE standards". European Alternative Fuels Observatory. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  2. "AUTOS ON MONDAY/Design; Little Cars in the Big Apple: Still Only a Good Idea". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 March 2010. In Europe, the "city car" is a well-understood concept
  3. Ruppert, James. "Motoring: The City car to be seen in". The Independent. Retrieved 1 March 2010. (City cars) are meant to be cheap, small, easy to park and yet practical, with good manners on the open road
  4. "REGULATION (EEC) No 4064/89 - MERGER PROCEDURE" (PDF). Office for Official Publications of the European Communities L-2985 Luxembourg.
  5. "European sales 2018 Minicars". www.carsalesbase.com. February 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  6. "European sales 2019 Minicars". www.carsalesbase.com. February 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  7. "European sales 2020 Q1-Q3 Minicars". www.carsalesbase.com. February 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  8. "Car market share by segment Italy 2018". www.statista.com. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  9. "US car sales analysis 2020 – Minicars". www.carsalesbase.com. February 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  10. "India: A-segment cars biggest market share loser, compact SUVs leading gainer". www.ihsmarkit.com. 14 June 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  11. "Segment shift: Indian car buyers now prefer premium". www.carwale.com. 14 April 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
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