A-segment

(Redirected from City car)

The A-segment is the first 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][2][3]

2024 best-selling
Fiat 500e 1st generation (2020-present)
Fiat Panda 3rd generation (2011–present)
Toyota Aygo 2nd generation (2014–2021)
Volkswagen Up! 1st generation (2011-2023)
Kia Picanto 3rd generation (2017–present)

A-segment sales represent approximately 7–8% of the market in 2010s.[4][5][6] It is approximately equivalent to the kei car class in Japan.

Definition

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As of 2021, the A-segment category size spans from approximately 2.7 metres (110 in) to 3.7 metres (150 in).[citation needed]

Characteristics

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Body styles for A-segment cars in Europe are always hatchbacks. But as crossovers gain popularity, new models may shift to resemble crossovers. Such examples are the Suzuki Ignis and the Toyota Aygo X. Other body styles such as sedans are not present in this segment because these shapes largely prove impractical at typical A-segment dimensions.

Current models

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In 2020 the ten highest selling A-segment cars in Europe were Fiat Panda, Fiat 500, Toyota Aygo, Renault Twingo, Volkswagen Up!, Hyundai i10, Kia Picanto, Peugeot 108, Citroën C1 and Suzuki Ignis.[7]

100,000 - 200,000 sales (Best-Selling)

50,000 - 100,000 sales

10,000 - 50,000 sales

Sales figures in Europe

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2021

rank

BrandModel201320142015201620172018201920202021% change

(2020–2021)

1FiatPanda152,727152,045171,377190,432187,049168,094184,027145,907175,950 +25%
2Fiat500 (2007)158,918180,403180,005183,194189,360188,448175,017141,313131,723 -10%
3ToyotaAygo57,00268,87486,08584,32184,58892,18799,51082,71182,820 0%
4VolkswagenUp!130,039124,845105,34896,836100,71597,36680,04859,57869,400 +16%
5KiaPicanto50,52451,22254,03654,98262,16174,52674,30549,21159,949 +22%
6RenaultTwingo78,43281,57495,80884,76677,32686,22187,38373,34558,161 -21%
7Hyundaii1060,32480,81986,00485,38590,60383,10278,79150,23356,074 +12%
8SuzukiIgnis---1,60241,16643,77438,09137,56842,206 +12%
9CitroënC156,72253,51863,69562,53753,29252,02049,90040,57835,897 -12%
10Peugeot108-31,08768,52263,56155,83157,25754,23043,62934,689 -20%
11MitsubishiMirage/Space Star13,97822,00829,54727,38630,01636,10538,00235,70332,662 -9%
12SmartFortwo65,22652,05957,05669,16965,80062,36177,76619,57626,869 +37%
13DaciaSpring-------1,72425,740 +1,393%
14SEATMii28,60824,86524,29819,88215,41213,03112,6417,7909,428 +21%
15SmartForfour3,75739,54337,13334,25334,97536,7367,6408,823 +15%
16ŠkodaCitigo44,85140,61638,73538,66435,69836,45030,78614,1205,264 -63%
17RenaultKwid-------65439 +575%
18SuzukiCelerio-89425,39326,46523,41720,83613,2752,03516 -99%
19CitroënC-Zero--1,0751,7801,1051,2479801,83914 -99%
20PeugeotiOn--1,4611,8811,5441,6518653334 -99%
CitroënE-Mehari---56935332115478-
Mitsubishii-MiEV--71448444732517157-
Opel/VauxhallAdam45,75654,20755,27852,93848,18141,81731,1295-
MitsubishiAttrage--35216811462881-
Opel/VauxhallKarl/Viva--28,60757,45849,51648,29247,5040-
DR AutomobilesZero---261174--0-
Lancia/ChryslerYpsilon57,61362,80759,50166,941-----
FordKa50,01252,85448,36821,33320416---
Peugeot10755,24424,35688512---
ChevroletSpark37,26810,1384799623---
SuzukiAlto26,82126,8765,71042----
SuzukiSplash15,56313,2322,66311-----
Opel/VauxhallAgila14,02012,2002,054191----
ToyotaiQ5,4623,59329217223---
TataIndica345523-----
NissanPixo3,321131-------
DR AutomobilesDR121--------
DaihatsuCuore/Charade5--------
VolkswagenFox1--------
Abarth500----18,49920,57019,157--
Segment total1,208,4311,229,3521,332,1461,330,4381,266,8321,261,0621,230,556814,974856,129 -5%
Source[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]

Market share in Europe

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Year20172018201920202021[16]
Share8.1%8%7.7%6.8%7.3%

2019 - In 2019, sales of minicars were down 2% compared to a total market gain of 1% which means this segment now makes up 7.7% of the total European car market at 1.21 million sales, down from 8% in 2018. And with margins on minicars under pressure due to increased costs to comply with stricter safety and emissions standards, manufacturers are scaling back investments in to minicars or switching to an EV-only strategy. [17]

In Italy, A-segment cars represented 16.4% of car sales in the first half of 2019.[18]

2020 - European sales of minicars were down by a third in 2020, which translates to nearly 400,000 fewer sales and means the segment loses market share as the overall market is down 24%. As a result, this segment now makes up 6.8% of the total European car market, down from 7.7% 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.[19]

Market share in other countries

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

In 2020 the highest selling minicar segment cars in the U.S. were the Chevrolet Spark, Mitsubishi Mirage and Mini Cooper.[20]

In India, historically the A-segment cars had the highest sales. Sales have been in decline in recent years,[21] falling from 70,000 sales per month in 2014 to 47,000 sales per month in 2016.[22]

As of 2019, several A-segment cars had successes outside Europe, such as Hyundai Grand i10, Honda Brio, Kia Picanto, Tata Tiago, Toyota Wigo, Suzuki Celerio, Suzuki Wagon R, Suzuki/Maruti Alto, Ford Figo, Smart ForTwo, Citroën C1, Peugeot 108, and modern Fiat 500.

See also

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References

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Euro Car Segment[1]Euro NCAP ClassUS EPA
Size Class[2]
Other common
segment terms
Examples
QuadricycleMicrocar
Bubble car
Bond Bug, Smart ForTwo, Isetta,
Mega City, Renault Twizy
A-segment mini carsSuperminiMinicompactCity car
Kei car (JP)
Chevrolet Spark, Fiat 500, Kia Picanto,
Suzuki Alto, Renault Twingo
B-segment small carsSubcompactFord Fiesta, Kia Rio, Opel Corsa,
Peugeot 208, Volkswagen Polo
C-segment medium carsSmall family carCompactHonda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Ford Focus,
Toyota Corolla, Volkswagen Golf
Subcompact executiveAcura ILX, Audi A3, BMW 1 Series,
Lexus CT, Mercedes-Benz A-Class
D-segment large carsLarge family carMid-sizeFord Mondeo, Toyota Camry, Peugeot 508,
Mazda6, Volkswagen Passat
Compact executive (U.K.)
Entry-level luxury (U.S.)
Alfa Romeo Giulia, Audi A4, BMW 3 Series,
Lexus IS, Mercedes-Benz C-Class
E-segment executive carsExecutiveLargeFull-size car (U.S.)Chevrolet Impala, Chrysler 300, Ford Taurus,
Holden Caprice, Toyota Avalon
Mid-size luxury (U.S.)Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Cadillac CT5,
Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Tesla Model S
F-segment luxury carsFull-size luxury (U.S.)
Luxury saloon (U.K.)
Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Jaguar XJ,
Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Porsche Panamera
S-segment sports coupésSupercarBugatti Chiron, LaFerrari, Lamborghini Aventador,
Pagani Huayra, Porsche 918 Spyder
ConvertibleChevrolet Camaro, Mercedes-Benz CLK,
Volvo C70, Volkswagen Eos, Opel Cascada
Roadster sportsTwo-seaterRoadster
Sports car
BMW Z4, Lotus Elise, Mazda MX-5,
Porsche Boxster, Mercedes-Benz SLK
M-segment multi purpose carsSmall MPVMinivanMini MPVCitroën C3 Picasso, Kia Venga, Ford B-Max,
Opel Meriva, Fiat 500L
Compact MPVChevrolet Orlando, Ford C-Max, Suzuki Ertiga,
Renault Scénic, Volkswagen Touran
Large MPVPeople mover (AU)Chrysler Pacifica (RU), Kia Carnival, Renault Espace,
Toyota Sienna, Citroën C4 Grand Picasso
J-segment sport utility carsSmall off-road 4x4Small SUVMini 4x4 (U.K.)
Mini SUV (U.S.)
Daihatsu Terios, Ford EcoSport, Jeep Renegade,
Peugeot 2008, Suzuki Jimny
Compact 4x4 (U.K.)
Compact SUV
Tesla Model Y, Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape,
Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage
Large off-road 4x4Standard SUVLarge 4x4 (U.K., AU)
Mid-size SUV (U.S.)
Ford Edge, Hyundai Santa Fe, Jeep Grand Cherokee,
Volkswagen Touareg, Volvo XC90
Full-size SUV (U.S.)
Large 4x4 (U.K.)
Upper Large SUV (AU)
Lincoln Navigator, Range Rover, Chevrolet Suburban,
Toyota Land Cruiser, Mercedes-Benz GLS
  1. ^ "Case No COMP/M.1406 - Hyundai / Kia: Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 Merger Procedure: Article 6(1)(b) Non-opposition" (PDF). Office for Official Publications of the European Communities. 17 March 1999. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  2. ^ 40 CFR 600.315-08