Animated chart of the day: World’s top ten countries for motor vehicle production, 1950 to 2019

The animated bar chart race visualization above shows the world’s top ten producers of motor vehicles from 1950 to 2019 using data from the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (English version of OICA). The annual OICA motor vehicle production figures include passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, minibusses, trucks, buses, and coaches. Here are some observations of this visualization:

1. The US was the world’s No. 1 production of motor vehicles in every year from 1950 until 1975 when Japan’s production surpassed the US. From 1975 to 1994 Japan held the No. 1 spot until 1995 when the US out-produced Japan and moved to the No. 1 spot. Japan moved back to No. 1 producer from 2006-2008 before China surpassed both the US and Japan in 2009 to become the global leader in motor vehicle production, a position it has held ever since. Last year China produced more than twice as many motor vehicles (25.7 million) as the USA (10.8 million) and Japan (9.6 million).

2. China didn’t appear in the world’s Top Ten producers of motor vehicles until 1995, and then it moved up to the Top Five producers in 2001.

3. In 1960, the USA produced more than half (52%) of the world’s motor vehicles and produced more vehicles than then next ten countries combined. Last year China’s share of world motor vehicle production was 28% compared to America’s share of 12%.

4. Mexico never consistently ranked among the world’s top ten motor vehicle producers until 2008 and moved up to the No. 6 position in recent years.

5. South Korea emerged as a top global car producer in the mid-1980s and has been among the top ten producers ever since, rising into the world’s top five producers in most years until it was surpassed recently by both India and Mexico. Last year South Korea ranked No. 7 in the world behind Mexico (No. 6) and India (No. 5).

6. Canada ranked among the world’s top ten motor vehicle producers in most years except during the Great Recession and from 2017-2019 as production increased in countries like India and Mexico. Canada out-produced Mexico in every year until 2008, when Mexico’s production rose above Canada’s for the first time. Last year Mexico produced more than twice as many vehicles (nearly 4 million) as Canada’s 1.9 million units.

Enjoy the show!