- The OICA (International Organisation of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers) has announced that global vehicle production amounted to 84.1 million units in 2012, which was up 5% compared to 2011. After a fall in 2009 due to the economic crisis of 2008, global production has therefore returned to a good growth rate, although there are however major variations depending on the regions in question.

- China remained the leading producer of vehicles last year, with 23% of global production, ahead of the European Union (19%), the United States (12%), Japan (12%), South Korea (5%), India (5%), Brazil (4%), Mexico (4%), Thailand (3%), Canada (3%), and Russia (3%).

- In 2012, global production was characterised by major in roads made by Asia, which now accounts for 51 % of global production.

- Production in Asia increased 9.6% last year due to Japan and Thailand catching up, whichwere hit hard by climate events the year before.

- European production fell 7.3% due to the 8% drop in the local market, which is the primary recipient of its production.

- US production increased 17.4%, with the buoyant local market rising 13.4 %, there by returning to a pre-crisis level (2007).

- South American production fell 3.5% due to exports falling, mainly in Brazil, particularly with exports of the VW Fox being discontinued (replaced by the Up! model in Europe).

-Since the start of the 2000s, D segment saloon cars and station wagons made by general manufacturers have continually lost ground. From 1.74 million units produced in Europe in 2001, the production volume has gradually fallen to 680 000 units in 2012 (constituting a 60% drop in eleven years), with the main models concerned being the Renault Laguna (down 90%), the Ford Mondeo (down 80%), the Citroën C5 (down 75%), the Peugeot 406/407/508 (down 50%), and the Toyota Avensis (down 45%). The Volkswagen Passat seems to have held up better, but in spite of everything, its production volume fell 40% over eleven years.

-The main reasons for this:

-D segment saloon cars are being attacked by the most recent C segment cars,which provide services (fittings, safetyfeatures, etc.) close to the higher segment.

-The increase in sales of other vehicle body types in the D segment like MPVs, SUVs and crossovers.

-Although in 2001 general manufacturers dominated in this category, they have been much more adversely affected since then and from 2007 onwards were displaced by premium manufacturers (Audi, BMW, Mercedes, and Volvo) whose sales in this segment stabilised.

-As the difference is increasing fromyear to year, it is by no means certain that D segment vehicles manufactured by general manufacturers can survive in the long term.

- It should be borne in mind that since the launch of the first generation in 1974, the Volkswagen Golf has been one of the highest-selling vehicles in Europe, as well as being one of the ones manufactured in the greatest numbers. 6.8 million of the first generation were manufactured (1974-1983), 6.3 million of the second generation (1983-1991), 4.8 million of the third generation (1991-1997), 4.3 million of the fourth generation (1997-2003), 3.8 million of the fifth generation (2003-2008), and 2.6 million of the sixth generation (2008-2012) were made. The erosion of the Golf's sales from one generation to the next is therefore apparent, but the life cycle of these generations, which gradually became shorter, has to be factored in, as well as the advent of competing models within the Volkswagen range, like the Golf Plus, the Touran and the Tiguan. In spite of that, the Golf has held up better than its competitors from other brands like the Opel Astra, the Ford Focus, the Renault Mégane or the Peugeot 308.