Kombis im Schatten der SUVs: Ein Comeback mit Hindernissen

Could station wagons be making a return? It doesn't seem likely…

While their sales have seen a slight increase, do these practical vehicles stand a chance against the popular SUVs in the long run?

Station wagons aren't out of the race just yet. The most recent global sales figures for the year 2023 have indicated a rise in demand for these vehicles, despite the overwhelming popularity of SUVs and the lack of interest from consumers in China and the United States. Are we witnessing the beginnings of a renewed interest in these vehicles? What's driving this increase in sales?

Let's start with the bright side. The global sales of station wagons saw a healthy increase of approximately 12 percent, jumping from 1.42 to 1.59 million units from 2022 to 2023. This certainly marks a positive trend, especially in comparison to the sedans' market, which experienced a meager increase of just 1 percent. This achievement is all the more notable considering that such vehicles are predominantly sold in Europe. Germany, in particular, continues to lead the pack in station wagon sales by a significant margin.

In the previous year, a significant 69% of station wagon sales were concentrated in Europe and Turkey, with a notable increase of 15% in sales volume. The station wagon continues to be valued for its utility in countries like the Czech Republic, where it commands nearly a fifth of the car market share. It's also popular in Italy. Following these, other countries like Germany, Hungary, Sweden, Slovakia, Finland, Austria, Poland, Serbia, and Estonia also see substantial sales.

The Flip Side of the Coin

Nevertheless, the station wagon appears to be somewhat doomed. While sales have increased in comparison to 2022, the total volume has decreased by 2 percent from 2021 and by 13 percent from 2020, when global markets were impacted by the pandemic.

The surge in the previous year can be primarily attributed to the remarkably high sales of Volkswagen Group's station wagons in Europe, the robust sales performance of the Renault Group boosted by the Dacia Jogger, and to a lesser extent, the solid market presence of the Subaru Outback in the U.S., along with the launch of Chinese automobiles such as the NIO ET5 T.

However, the figures just don't add up. The demand is highly focused on one particular area, yet so low overall that numerous brands will likely eliminate station wagons from their lineup when considering global sales.

The world's largest car market, China, shows little interest in station wagons. In 2023, a mere 95,600 units were sold, accounting for only 0.4 percent of the total market, trailing behind Japan, the United States, and Germany. Efforts such as SAIC-GM-Wuling's venture with Baojun's RC-5 W model, later renamed Valli, did not succeed. Last year, consumers had just 14 station wagon models to choose from, with the electric Buick Velite 6 leading the pack, closely followed by the newcomer NIO.

The United States presents a similar scenario. It stands as the most significant marketplace for the Subaru Outback, the top-selling station wagon globally. However, other models on offer receive little attention. Notably, the Subaru, marketed as a crossover, accounts for over 93% of station wagon sales in the US.

Die führenden zehn Märkte nach Anteilen im Jahr 2023

Ranking der Kombi-Verkäufe nach Hersteller im Jahr 2023

Eine Wahl für SUVs über Kombis

Ein entscheidender Faktor, der gegen eine rosige Zukunft für Kombis spricht, ist die anhaltende Beliebtheit von SUVs. Obwohl Kombis in Sachen Design den SUVs nahekommen, fallen sie in anderen Bereichen zurück. Sie mögen ähnlich vielseitig sein, doch wenn es um Offroad-Fähigkeiten und den Komfort beim Ein- und Aussteigen geht, können sie nicht konkurrieren. Zudem sind SUVs weiterhin stark im Trend.

Additional analyses:

Felipe Munoz, mentioned as the article's author, serves as an Automotive Industry Expert at JATODynamics.

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