Product Code Database
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.
A-segment sales represented approximately 4.2% of the European market in 2024. It is approximately equivalent to the kei car class in Japan.
A-segment cars are traditionally offered with manual transmission as the sole transmission option. Beginning in the 2010s, automatic options are increasingly available. Some newer models most often utilize CVTs, while a small number of manufacturers also offer automated manual transmissions.
The engines of A-segment cars commonly range from 1.0 to 1.4 litres, either in inline-four or three configuration. Newer models may have turbocharger and/or hybrid vehicle engines with a particular emphasis on higher fuel efficiency.
100,000 - 200,000 sales
1st generation (2007–2024)
Made in Poland
File:2012 Fiat Panda Easy 1.2 Front.jpg |Fiat Panda
3rd generation (2011–present)
Made in Italy
50,000 - 100,000 sales
1st generation (2011–2023)
Made in Slovakia
File:2018 Kia Picanto 3 Automatic 1.2 Front.jpg|Kia Picanto
3rd generation (2017–present)
Made in South Korea
File:Renault Twingo FL Monrepos 2019 IMG 1948.jpg|Renault Twingo
3rd generation (2014–2024)
Made in Slovenia
File:Hyundai i10 1.0 Intro (III) – f 03012021.jpg|Hyundai i10
3rd generation (2019–present)
Made in Turkey
File:2022 Toyota Aygo X Edge 1.0 VVT-i (Front).jpg|Toyota Aygo X
1st generation (2022–present)
Made in Czech Republic
10,000 - 50,000 sales
2nd generation (2016–present)
Made in India
File:2017 Citroen C1 Flair Puretech 1.2 Front.jpg|Citroën C1
2nd generation (2014–2021)
Made in Czech Republic
File:2018 Peugeot 108 Collection 1.0 Front (1).jpg|Peugeot 108
2nd generation (2014–2021)
Made in Czech Republic
File:Mitsubishi Space Star (2019) Auto Zuerich 2021 IMG 0244.jpg|Mitsubishi Mirage
6th generation (2012–2024)
Made in Thailand
File:Smart EQ fortwo IMG 3100.jpg|Smart Fortwo
3rd generation (2016–2024)
Made in France
File:Dacia_Spring_Electric_45_Business_–_f_20062021.jpg|Dacia Spring
1st generation (2021–present)
Made in China
| + !Year | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2024 |
In Italy, A-segment cars represented 16.4% of car sales in the first half of 2019.
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.
In 2020 the highest selling minicar segment cars in the U.S. were the Chevrolet Spark, Mitsubishi Mirage and Mini Cooper.
In India, historically the A-segment cars had the highest sales. Sales have been in decline in recent years, falling from 70,000 sales per month in 2014 to 47,000 sales per month in 2016.
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 Alto, Ford Figo, Smart ForTwo, Citroën C1, Peugeot 108, and modern Fiat 500.
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