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B-segment

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Toyota Yaris hatchback
Hyundai Accent sedan
Renault Clio station wagon
Chevrolet Trax crossover SUV

The B-segment is the second smallest of the European segments for passenger cars, which is described as "small cars".[1][2][3] It is equivalent to the subcompact category in the United States and the supermini category in Great Britain.[4][5] B-segment cars may include hatchback, sedan, station wagon, MPV, and crossover/SUV body styles.[6][7]

Definition

The European segments are not based on size or weight criteria.[2] In practice, B-segment cars have been described as having a length of approximately from 3.7 metres (145.7 in) up to 4.2 metres (165.4 in), and may vary depending on the body styles and markets.[4][8][9] In some cases, the same car may differently positioned depending to the market.[8]

The Euro NCAP vehicle class called “Supermini” also includes smaller A-segment cars alongside B-segment cars.[10]

History

Europe

Main article: Supermini

The term supermini, which precedes the B-segment term emerged in the UK in the 1970s, as car manufacturers sought a new design to surpass the influential Mini, launched in 1959, and journalists attempted to categorise such a vehicle.[11][12] The car which is widely recognised as the first modern B-segment supermini is the Fiat 127, launched in 1971.[13][14] This was initially sold only as a two-door saloon, but it became available as a three-door hatchback the following year and within a few more years the hatchback version had eclipsed the saloon from which it was derived.[15]

The Fiat 127 was followed by the Renault 5, VW Polo and Honda Civic. These supermini or B-segment cars was considered to feature better comfort and convenience, with the safety and surefootedness of the Mini’s front-wheel drive/transverse engine package. That meant the addition of a hatchback and folding rear seats, and a vastly more comfortable driving position. In 1976, Ford launched the Ford Fiesta which became popular for its fun-to-drive aspect, versatility, and low running costs.[16][17]

The segment began to be more popular in the 1980s.[16] By the mid-1980s, the term supermini had become established as a formal car classification term,[18] eventually being adopted in European Commission classification as the B-segment.[19]

By 2018, a number of manufacturers had stopped producing three-door versions of its B-segment offerings in Europe.[20][21]

North America

Main article: Subcompact car

Japan

The Honda Fit surpassed the Toyota Corolla as the best-selling car in the Japan a year after its introduction.[22]

In Japan, B-segment cars are commonly known as "compact cars", and sits above the kei car segment.[23][24] One of the early entry level car, which later evolved into a B-segment car was the Toyota Publica. Conceived as a family car to fulfill the requirements of the Japanese government's "national car concept", it was the smallest Toyota vehicle in the era. The national car concept consists of several requirements, including maximum speed over 100 km/h (62 mph), weight below 400 kg (882 lb), fuel consumption not exceeding 30 km/L (3.3 L/100 km; 85 mpg‑imp; 71 mpg‑US) at the average speed of 60 km/h (37 mph) on a level road, but also notably the the car would not break down or require significant repairs for at least 100,000 kilometres (62,000 mi). The car sits above the kei class.[25]

In 1973, the Toyota Publica was succeeded by the Toyota Starlet. It sits below the C-segment Toyota Corolla, and was initially called the Publica Starlet.[26]

In 1982, Nissan launched its smallest vehicle called the Nissan March, which is intended to occupy the segment.[24]

The B-segment gained its momentum in the country in early 2000s. In 1999, the Toyota Vitz was released as a successor to the Starlet. With a newly developed engine and platform, and its light weight which stood around 800 kg (1,764 lb), it was considered a success. In 2000, a year after its release, an average of 13,394 units were registered per month, and sales are approaching those of the Toyota Corolla series which traditionally led Japan car sales rankings.[22]

In June 2001, the first-generation Honda Fit was released, replacing the Honda Logo. Although it was sold in limited trims and engine options, the number of registered cars in 2002 reached 250,790 units. As the result, the Fit surpasses the Toyota Corolla as the best-selling car in the country, a title that it held continuously for 33 years.[22][27]

In the mid-2000s, competition for B-segment cars became more fierce as the Nissan March and Mazda Demio was released, while also getting crowded with imported cars entering the market such as the Volkswagen Polo and Peugeot 206.[22]

Currently, the segment is considered to be divided into two category, the hatchback type with a height dimension lower than 1,550 mm (61.0 in), and the "tall wagon" type higher than 1,550 mm (61.0 in), which resembles an MPV body style.[28]

India

The Suzuki Swift was the best selling car in India in 2020 for the first time.[29]

The pioneer of a contemporary B-segment car in the country is the Maruti 1000, a rebadged Suzuki Cultus sedan, which was introduced in 1989.[30][31] By mid-1990s up to early 2000s, many foreign manufacturers entered the Indian market bringing B-segment sedans as their main products.[32] These include the Opel Corsa, Hyundai Accent, Ford Ikon, and Honda City.[33][34]

In 1998, the Tata Indica was launched as first indigenous B-segment hatchback.[35] In 2005, Maruti Suzuki introduced its first B-segment hatchback, the Swift after years mainly focusing on smaller hatchbacks. According to a Maruti Suzuki executive, the company was initially hesitant to introduce the Swift, however products from competitors such as the Honda City and Hyundai Getz convinced the company to release the vehicle.[36]

In the 2010s, the market moved upwards from entry level cars towards more expensive B-segment cars.[37] It was proven by the fall of A-segment cars sales of 12.14 percent between 2017 and 2018, while in the same period, sub-segments under the B-segment grew between 4.23 percent to 15.47 percent.[38]

By 2016, B-segment cars held a market share of 23.7 percent in the country.[39]

Southeast Asia

The segment saw considerable growth after Honda and Toyota released B-segment sedans in the region as a cheaper alternative to the popular C-segment sedan. Honda revived the City nameplate for an entry-level sedan below the Civic based on the older fourth-generation Civic.[40] In the same year, Toyota introduced the Tercel-based Toyota Soluna in Thailand in 1996 in response to stiff competition from imported South Korean cars.[41] These models are made in Thailand as the production base.[40]

Brazil

B-segment vehicles counts for 40 percent of total vehicle sales in the country for the Q1–Q3 2018 period,[42] a decline from 42.3 percent in 2012.[43]

List

Category:Subcompact cars ( 317 )

Sales

2020 European B-segment vehicle sales[44]
No Model Sales
1 Renault Clio 248,602
2 Peugeot 208 199,316
3 Opel/Vauxhall Corsa 198,887
4 Toyota Yaris 179,867
5 Volkswagen Polo 169,467
6 Dacia Sandero 167,032
7 Ford Fiesta 156,067
8 Citroën C3 149,284
9 Mini 110,664
10 Renault Zoe 99,432

In 2018 the ten highest selling B-segment cars in Europe were the Renault Clio, Volkswagen Polo, Ford Fiesta, Peugeot 208, Opel/Vauxhall Corsa, Toyota Yaris, Dacia Sandero, Citroën C3, Skoda Fabia and Seat Ibiza. [45]

In 2019 the ten highest selling B-segment cars in Europe were the Renault Clio, Volkswagen Polo, Ford Fiesta, Peugeot 208, Dacia Sandero, Opel/Vauxhall Corsa, Toyota Yaris, Citroën C3, Skoda Fabia and Mini.[46]

Market share

Europe

European sales of subcompact cars, Europe’s largest segment by volume, were down 25% in 2020 to 2.24 million units, which means the segment now makes up 18.7% of the European car market, down from 19.7% in 2019.

United States

In the United States, subcompact segment cars represented 1.5% of the market share. Subcompact car sales in the US are down 38% in 2020, in an overall market down 14%, making it the worst performing class, equal to large sedans. At just under 215,800 sales, this is the lowest sales in this segment since 2005.

See also

References

  1. ^ "European vehicle categories | EAFO". www.eafo.eu. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  2. ^ a b "Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 - Merger Procedure" (PDF). www.europa.eu. exact market definition was left open .. boundaries between segments are blurred by factors other than the size or length of cars
  3. ^ "Impact on the Competitiveness of the European Automotive Industry of Potential FTA with India and ASEAN" (PDF). www.europa.eu. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 April 2013.
  4. ^ a b Jacobs, Andrew James (2016). The new domestic automakers in the United States and Canada: history, impacts, and prospects. Lexington Books. p. 33. ISBN 9780739188262. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  5. ^ Maxton, Graeme P.; Wormald, John (2004). Time for a Model Change: Re-engineering the Global Automotive Industry. Cambridge University Press. p. 17. ISBN 9780521837156. Retrieved 19 July 2017. B-segment cars.
  6. ^ King, Nicholas (2020-12-21). "Best of 2020: B-Segment | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  7. ^ "My segmentation". Fiat Group World. 2013-10-21. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  8. ^ a b Felipe (2012-05-15). "Learning about cars: the 'B' segment". Fiat Group World. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  9. ^ Meadows, Jordan (2017). Vehicle Design: aesthetic principles in transportation design. Routledge. pp. 39–40. ISBN 9781138685604. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  10. ^ "Latest Safety Ratings". www.euroncap.com. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  11. ^ Webb, Clifford (11 August 1976). "Leyland management denies 'pushing too hard' over output". The Times. p. 15. There are also said to be fears within the state-owned motor group that Ford, having displaced Leyland from their traditional market leadership, will stay top for the rest of the year and could consolidate this position further with the introduction of the super "Mini", the Ford Fiesta.
  12. ^ "Plans for super Mini". The Times. 18 August 1976. p. 1. Leyland Cars announce a plan to mass produce a super Mini in an integrated operation at Longbridge.
  13. ^ "Fiat 127". in Italy. 2012-05-31. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  14. ^ Autocar, Graham Scott (2017-10-12). "21 people's cars from motoring history". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  15. ^ Licata, Matteo (2021-02-21). "Why The Original Fiat 127 Is A Cool Italian Classic". roadster-life. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  16. ^ a b "The Rise of the Superminis". Hagerty UK. 2015-03-04. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  17. ^ Stone, Matt (2020-05-28). "Ford Fiesta USA 1976-2019: Now Gone But Not Forgotten By Enthusiasts". Ford Performance. Retrieved 2021-03-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ Mann, D (1999). "Car definitions and forecast methodology". Automotive Plastics & Composites - Worldwide Markets & Trends to 2007. Elsevier. p. 176. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  19. ^ European Commission classification
  20. ^ Radu, Mihnea (2018-04-16). "Peugeot 208 3-Door to Be Discontinued Soon, Just Like the Rest of Its Rivals". autoevolution. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  21. ^ Hull, Rob (2018-08-10). "Three-door cars are being killed off by manufacturers due to low sales". This is Money. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  22. ^ a b c d "トヨタ ヴィッツ 誕生から20年間の「栄光」と「挫折」" ["Glory" and "Frustration" for 20 years since the birth of Toyota Vitz]. 自動車情報誌「ベストカー」 (in Japanese). 2019-12-21. Retrieved 2021-03-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ "日本のコンパクトカーは驚くほど進化した！ ヤリス＆フィット試乗記" [Japanese compact cars have evolved amazingly! Yaris & Fit test drive]. GQ JAPAN (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-03-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ a b "何が勝敗を分けるのか？ 国産コンパクトカーの栄枯盛衰について考える" [What makes the difference? Think about the rise and fall of domestic compact cars]. webCG (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-03-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ 株式会社プロトコーポレーション. "名車探訪 TOYOTA パブリカ（初代）" [[Visit famous cars] TOYOTA Publica (first generation)]. Goo-net (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-03-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. ^ "トヨタ スターレット歴代モデルを徹底網羅！歴史や現在の評価・中古車情報を紹介" [Thorough coverage of Toyota Starlet successive models! Introducing history and current evaluation / used car information]. MOBY. 2018-10-25. Retrieved 2021-03-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  27. ^ "ホンダ フィット 4世代20年をふりかえる［フォトヒストリー］". レスポンス（Response.jp） (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  28. ^ "【2020年最新】コンパクトカーの人気車種ランキング！全18車種からおすすめの車種を徹底紹介" [[Latest in 2020] Ranking of popular compact cars! Thorough introduction of recommended models from all 18 models]. カルモマガジン (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-03-02. 全高が1550mm以内で立体駐車場にも入るハッチバック系と、軽自動車のスーパーハイトワゴンの流れを汲む背の高いトールワゴン系の2種類に分けることができます。(It can be divided into two types: a hatchback type that has a total height of 1550 mm or less and can be used in a multi-storey car park, and a tall tall wagon type that follows the flow of a super-height wagon for mini vehicles.){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  29. ^ "Maruti Suzuki Swift was India's best-selling car in 2020 - paultan.org". Paul Tan's Automotive News. 2021-01-25. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  30. ^ Gupta, Ritvik (2020-04-28). "Maruti Suzuki | The Name You Know, the History you Don't". The GoMechanic Blog. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  31. ^ "8 cars that ruled Indian roads from 1980s to 90s - Blast from the past". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  32. ^ Piplai, p. 2893
  33. ^ John, Cyrus (2017-12-29). "20 Years of Honda City in India: How the Sedan Has Evolved". TheQuint. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  34. ^ Gupta, Ritvik (2020-04-16). "10 Forgotten Sedan In India | From Cielo To Sienna". The GoMechanic Blog. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  35. ^ "India's Hatchback Market" (PDF) (pdf). Ipsos Business Consulting. November 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  36. ^ "The Maruti Suzuki Swift: How it all began". Autocar India. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  37. ^ "To make better decisions, you need to see the big picture". IHS Markit. 2016-06-14. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  38. ^ Thakkar, Ketan; Chaliawala, Nehal. "Growing aspiration makes premium hatchbacks new mass market cars". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  39. ^ "To make better decisions, you need to see the big picture". IHS Markit. 2016-11-21. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  40. ^ a b "Honda CITY , The History : จากรถวัยรุ่น Tall Boy ในญี่ปุ่น สู่ Sedan ขายดีในไทย". HeadLight Magazine (in Thai). 2020-07-30. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  41. ^ Ueda, Yoko (December 2009). "The Origin and Growth of Local Entrepreneurs in Auto Parts Industry in Thailand" (PDF). CCAS Working Paper (Center for Contemporary Asian Studies). 25. Tokyo: Doshisha University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  42. ^ "Brazil boosts the Latin American car market, which grows by 4.9% through September". JATO. 2018-10-30. Retrieved 2021-03-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  43. ^ Felipe (2013-02-16). "Brazil 2012 Full Year Analysis". Fiat Group World. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  44. ^ "European sales 2020 Subcompact cars". carsalesbase.com. 2021-02-10. Retrieved 2021-03-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  45. ^ "European sales 2018 Subcompact car segment". www.carsalesbase.com. February 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  46. ^ "European sales 2019 Subcompact cars". www.carsalesbase.com. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
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