The World’s 5 Largest Car Markets

The world, it is a-changing. No longer is the US the largest car market on the planet. It has been surpassed by the nation that many say will eventually become the Big Man on Campus in a variety of ways, China.

Photo: AP / Ng Han Guan

1. A staggering 17.4 million vehicles were sold in China last year. Industry observers feel that the Red Nation’s dominance in the car world will only continue as more and more car companies set up shop on the other side of the Great Wall, while at the same time more and more Chinese fill their pockets with dispoble income.
2. America is the second largest car market with 14.5 million vehicles being moved in the Red, White and Blue last year.
3. Japan held steady at number three by moving a mere 5.2 million vehicles last year. As of the time of this writing, there were no confirmation as to exactly what percentage of these sales were the result of Godzilla’s rampage of June 2012.
4. Brazil takes the four spot on the list by having 3.6 million cars and trucks being sold in the nation o’ thongs in 2012.
5. The fifth spot on the list shows that at least one European nation has an economic pulse. There were 3.3 million vehicles sold in Germany in 2012. Many feel that within the next six years, Russia will surpass Germany in the car market rankings.