- The 17-country European car market for passenger cars fell 52.9% in March 2020 to 772,671 units. Over the quarter, the European market in 17 countries fell 27.1% to 2,761,631 units. This sharp drop recorded in March 2020 is due to the coronavirus crisis which led to the closure of factories and car dealerships in the middle of the month, and of course to the confinement of the population. This decline is the largest since World War II, as even the successive oil shocks and the 2008/2009 financial crisis had not had such an impact on European auto sales and production. The market of the 12 countries of central and eastern Europe, for its part, fell 38.1% in March 2020 to 79,291 units, and 18.6% in the quarter to 291,073 units. In total, the European market for 29 countries fell 51.9% in March 2020 to 851,962 units, and 26.3% in the quarter to 3,052,704 units. Over the year, the European market could fall by 30%.

- April 2020 will be even worse, since the closure of factories and car dealerships as well as the confinement of populations spread throughout the month. We could record a fall of around 90%.

- The manufacturers most affected in Europe during the quarter were: Ford Group (-38.1%), FCA Group (-34.3%), PSA Group (-34.2%), Renault-Nissan Group (-33, 2%), Daimler Group (-25.9%), Tata Group (-25.5%), Volkswagen Group (-19.1%), Geely Group (-19.1%), Hyundai-Kia Group (- 18.7%), BMW Group (-16.7%), Toyota Group (-9.4%).

- Tesla is the only manufacturer to post a positive score in the quarter.

- The Japanese passenger car market was down 8.9% in March 2020 from March 2019, as Japan saw the coronavirus crisis come later than China, Europe and the United States.

- Curiously, the Japanese market had experienced larger declines in January 2020 (-12.1%) and February 2020 (-9.8%), unrelated to the coronavirus crisis, but rather a consequence of economic conditions in Japan.

- On the cumulative 3 months 2020, the Japanese market therefore fell by 10.0%, a better result than those recorded in China, Europe and the United States.

- On the other hand, the month of April being threatening as regards health in Japan, it is likely that the Japanese market will know a significant fall in April, more important than that of March.

- The Japanese administration announces a period of containment and the temporary closure of factories and car dealerships in April, as happened much earlier in China, Europe and the United States.

- The manufacturers most affected in the first quarter of 2020 were Mitsubishi (-23%), Nissan (-18%), Honda (-15%) and Suzuki (-12%). The Toyota group, yet the undisputed leader in sales in Japan, saw its sales fall by only 5%, and therefore its market share increased further during the quarter. Subaru is down 3.5%. Mazda is stable and is also seeing its market share increase.

- The US automobile market for passenger cars (ranking harmonized with that of other countries) decreased by 36.9% in March 2020 compared to March 2019, the United States having seen the coronavirus crisis arrive later than China and Europe .

- Over the 3-month 2020 cumulative period, the US market fell 11.1%, a much better result than those recorded in China and Europe.

- On the other hand, the month of April being catastrophic in health matters in the United States, it is likely that the US market will experience a significant fall this month, more important than that of March.

- The American administration however announces a next resumption of the activity of the assembly factories located on the American territory, which seems unrealistic, so much the pandemic is currently important on this territory and seems to be spreading. The move would likely threaten the health of many workers in the auto industry.

- The first two months of 2020 were at the same level of production as those of 2019, but March 2020 should be worse than March 2019.

- The manufacturers most affected in the first quarter of 2020 were Nissan (-29.6%), Honda (-19.2%), BMW (-17.4%), Jaguar Land Rover (-17.2%) and Volkswagen (-13.9%). American manufacturers were less affected: GM (-7.1%), Ford (-12.3%) and Chrysler (-10.4%). The manufacturers that withstood the drop in sales better were Mercedes (-4.6%), Hyundai-Kia (-5.4%) and Toyota (-8.8%). Tesla (-5.4%) is also one of the manufacturers that weathered the crisis the best.

- The Indian passenger car market was down 51.0% in March 2020 from March 2019, as India was hit by the coronavirus crisis arriving later than China.

- Over the 3-month cumulative period of 2020, the Indian market therefore fell by 22.1%, the worst result recorded for several years.

- Experts expect a slight improvement for April, which should register a volume of around 200,000 units.

- The manufacturers most affected in the first quarter of 2020 were Groupe FCA (-100%), Groupe VW (-64.0%), Honda (-59.7%), Mahindra (-51.6%), Ford (- 51.1%), Renault-Nissan (-46.3%), Tata Motors (-34.1%) and Hyundai-Kia (-30.0%).

- Manufacturers Toyota and Suzuki limited the drop in sales to -20.3% and -11.8% respectively, which means that these two manufacturers increased their market share in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the first quarter of 2019 .

- However, Suzuki traditionally holds more than half of the Indian market. In 2020, its market share reached two thirds of the Indian market, which is a record market share for this manufacturer.

- As if the clientele had massively gone for the purchase of vehicles belonging to the market leader, which gives a spectacular result, because the Indian market has never been so concentrated since the 1970s.