The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has published its Pocket Guide, which provides a comprehensive overview of the auto industry in Europe. The guide includes the latest data on employment, vehicle production and sales, trade flows, the vehicle fleet, road safety, the environment, innovation, and taxation. The 2021-2022 edition is special as it got a complete overhaul in line with ACEA’s new visual identity. However, the facts and figures in the guide also reveal the dramatic impact of COVID-19 on Europe’s auto industry. In 2020, almost 13 million motor vehicles were made in the EU, representing 16.7% of global production, but down 5 million units compared to 2019. Car output plummeted by 23.3% during the crisis year, while EU commercial vehicle production took a 21% hit. Exports of EU-built vehicles also decreased by nearly 15% in 2020, although still generating a €76.3 billion trade surplus for the European Union. Despite this unprecedented downturn, the statistics also demonstrate the continued importance of the industry as an economic powerhouse that keeps Europe on the move.
