The U.S. isn’t the only place where SUVs are becoming increasingly popular
SUVs seem to be all the rage these days in the United States. However, the U.S. isn’t the only region of the world that has taken a shine to SUVs.
The popularity of small SUVs is also on the rise across Europe. In fact, recent projections have suggested that the segment will grow by approximately 40 percent during the next four years throughout Europe.
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Last year, 1.4 million small SUVs were sold across Europe. Analysts at LMC Automotive expect an additional 400,000 sales to join that previous sales record this year.
One of the reasons for the rise of small SUVs this year is the introduction of new models to the market. Volkswagen recently added its T-Roc vehicle, Citroën introduced the C3 Aircross, and Opel and Vauxhall introduced the Crossland X to the European market.
Newly-introduced models like the C3 Aircross are already selling very well
Already in their first sales year, each of these three new SUVs have managed to obtain a spot among the top 10 highest-selling small SUVs in Europe. Furthermore, each of these models is expected to reach sales of more than 100,000 by the end of the year.
“The market has skyrocketed,” explains Ponz Pandikuthira, head of product planning for Nissan Europe. “We are projecting for the next four years it will grow like crazy, about 40 percent up, with all kinds of nameplates coming in.”
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By 2019, small SUV sales in Europe are expect to end up just shy of 2 million. By 2022, that number is expected to grow to 2.3 million.
Automakers are currently preparing to introduce even more models to the small SUV segment during the next few years. Skoda will launch a new vehicle to replace the discontinued Yeti, While Volkswagen is set to introduce a new T-Cross model, which will sit beneath the current T-Roc vehicle.
Even more small SUVs are set to be introduced to the European market during the next few years
Of course, this push to introduce new small SUVs isn’t just to appeal to customer tastes, but also to generate more profit for manufacturers. While hatchbacks have a current average selling price of 17,317 euros in Germany, the average small SUV sells for 23,386 euros.
At the moment, small SUVs are the most popular in Italy, where 97,744 units from this segment were sold during the first quarter of 2018. Still, other countries are catching up with these sales figures as the popularity of small utility models continues to grow throughout the European continent.
News Source: Automotive News Europe
Zachary Berry currently resides in the Dayton, Ohio area. However, he enjoys traveling from place to place, as he was born in Oklahoma City and has also lived in Albuquerque and Orlando (such is the life of a military brat). Zachary graduated from Ohio University with a major in Strategic Communication, which is fancy talk for advertising and public relations. Beginning his career at The News Wheel as a lowly intern, he was able to climb his way to the top, eventually claiming his place within the last cubicle on the left. Other jobs that Zachary has held include driving around a safari truck at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. When he’s not putting his nose to the grindstone, Zachary enjoys watching and critiquing movies and television. See more articles by Zachary.