# Which countries don't manufacturer any cars or commercial vehicles? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 20, 2016, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-countries-dont-manufacturer-any-cars-or-commercial-vehicles/775204 "2016-12-20T02:21:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-countries-dont-manufacturer-any-cars-or-commercial-vehicles/775204/1 "2016-12-20T02:21:32Z")
Tried googling and all I get are links to countries that manufacture cars. That’s a long list. I found the Top 40 countries that manufacture cars and commercial vehicles. > **[Top 40 Automobile Manufacturing Countries 2010](https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/03/top-40-automobile-manufacturing-countries-2010/)** > > The international auto manufacturers association OICA finally got around to publishing its 2010 production statistics by country. Officially still provisional, but don’t expect material change. Publication of the all important by manufacturer part... Which countries don’t manufacturer cars and commercial vehicles? They only import them for resale? That list should be out there. My Google skills just aren’t powerful enough. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-countries-dont-manufacturer-any-cars-or-commercial-vehicles/775204/2 "2016-12-20T02:46:31Z")
Looking at a list of countries by population, the largest country without any significant domestic auto manufacturing appears to be Nigeria. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-countries-dont-manufacturer-any-cars-or-commercial-vehicles/775204/3 "2016-12-20T03:03:56Z")
Auto manufacturing is leaving Australia (not clear if totally or just mostly): > **[News](https://www.swinburne.edu.au/news/)** > > News and opinions from Swinburne University of Technology. Explore our research innovations, stories about our people and reports on local and international events. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-countries-dont-manufacturer-any-cars-or-commercial-vehicles/775204/4 "2016-12-20T03:08:51Z")
Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Monaco, Andorra, San Marino, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Vatican City, Nauru, Mauritius, Micronesia, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Mongolia, Vanuatu, ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-countries-dont-manufacturer-any-cars-or-commercial-vehicles/775204/5 "2016-12-20T03:14:09Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I found the Top 40 countries that manufacture cars and commercial vehicles. > [Top 40 Automobile Manufacturing Countries 2010 | The Truth About Cars](http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/03/top-40-automobile-manufacturing-countries-2010/) What’s “supplementary” (#27 on the list) mean? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-countries-dont-manufacturer-any-cars-or-commercial-vehicles/775204/6 "2016-12-20T03:16:34Z")
I assume Cuba? They are known for using patched up American cars from the 1950’s. Bahamas, Barbados and similar islands probably import all their vehicles. Just a guess. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-countries-dont-manufacturer-any-cars-or-commercial-vehicles/775204/7 "2016-12-20T03:24:04Z")
There are, AIUI, about 160 countries in the world. If you really want such a list, start there and scratch off the 20% or so who DO manufacture complete cars. Do they have to make all the components domestically? The trend seems to be to make a few, then export them, then import a few and then have a foreign company sent in parts to assemble for the local market (Honda in Ohio, Toyota in Texas, VW in wherever…) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-countries-dont-manufacturer-any-cars-or-commercial-vehicles/775204/8 "2016-12-20T03:24:56Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > What’s “supplementary” (#27 on the list) mean? I’m not sure. I hadn’t noticed until you pointed it out. I’m not seeing any Middle Eastern countries on that list except Egypt and Iran. The wealthy ones probably import. Israel isn’t listed either. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-countries-dont-manufacturer-any-cars-or-commercial-vehicles/775204/9 "2016-12-20T03:33:27Z")
Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Finland. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-countries-dont-manufacturer-any-cars-or-commercial-vehicles/775204/10 "2016-12-20T03:47:50Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Finland. Rinspeed is Swiss. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![volante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7bcc69/32.png) [@volante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/volante)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-countries-dont-manufacturer-any-cars-or-commercial-vehicles/775204/11 "2016-12-20T04:06:48Z")
Guyana. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-countries-dont-manufacturer-any-cars-or-commercial-vehicles/775204/12 "2016-12-20T04:38:44Z")
This isn’t a hard problem in general. It is just simple set theory. Only a few countries produce the vast majority of vehicles in the world and they are all on the list. There are currently 196 countries in the world and the vast majority of them do not produce any vehicles. What is the definition for “manufacture or produce a vehicle”? Does a custom shop in Laos count? I am fairly certain that the Vatican and Monaco produce exactly zero as do most other countries ranging from Papua New Guinea to Suriname unless you want to get really creative with definitions. ---
**Author:** ![Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrogance_ex_machina/32/192_2.png) [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrogance_Ex_Machina)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-countries-dont-manufacturer-any-cars-or-commercial-vehicles/775204/13 "2016-12-20T04:55:25Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Finland. Finland has one car factory in Uusikaupunki currently making Mercedes Benz Class A cars. It’s a contract factory so it makes whatever cars it can get a contract for, not a Mercedes Benz factory, but it only makes cars. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-countries-dont-manufacturer-any-cars-or-commercial-vehicles/775204/14 "2016-12-20T14:16:51Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > Rinspeed is Swiss. > > Dennis Had to look that one up. More of a concept car designer than an actual manufacturer but I guess that qualifies. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-countries-dont-manufacturer-any-cars-or-commercial-vehicles/775204/15 "2016-12-20T14:45:00Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Which countries don’t manufacturer cars and commercial vehicles? > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > the largest country without any significant domestic auto manufacturing appears to be Nigeria. Ahhh, but what is the largest country without any auto _manufacturering_? ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-countries-dont-manufacturer-any-cars-or-commercial-vehicles/775204/16 "2016-12-20T16:16:21Z")
Here’s a more complete list and a map. > **[List of countries by motor vehicle production](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_motor_vehicle_production#)** > > This is a list of countries by motor vehicle production based on Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles (OICA) and other data from 2016 and earlier.Figures include passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, minibuses, trucks, buses and coaches. > EX denotes that the country's motor vehicle production rank is unknown. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-countries-dont-manufacturer-any-cars-or-commercial-vehicles/775204/17 "2016-12-20T20:34:59Z")
Cars are often part of a country’s culture and identity. Ford and Chevy in the US. BMW in Germany. Renault in France. UK had BMC with the Mini. Even the Soviets had the Lada, ZiL and Volga. The roads in these countries were filled with cars they manufactured. A lot has changed with Globalization and imports. But you still see a lot of Renault’s in France and BMW’s in Germany. Lots of Ford’s and Chevy’s in the US. I was curious which countries didn’t have their own manufactured cars. Thank you for your help. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-countries-dont-manufacturer-any-cars-or-commercial-vehicles/775204/18 "2016-12-20T20:38:10Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I was curious which countries didn’t have their own manufactured cars. So are you not interested in countries that have manufacturing plants for foreign manufacturers? Because that’s a completely different question. For example, are there any Canadian automakers? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-countries-dont-manufacturer-any-cars-or-commercial-vehicles/775204/19 "2016-12-20T20:40:45Z")
Sure, if it’s manufactured in a country then it counts. But there’s something special about the brand’s actually designed and built for a country. It reflects their style and sensibilities. Countries that only import probably don’t have the same special connection to their cars. ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-countries-dont-manufacturer-any-cars-or-commercial-vehicles/775204/20 "2016-12-20T20:41:34Z")
There are no cars manufactured in Ireland. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-countries-dont-manufacturer-any-cars-or-commercial-vehicles/775204.md?page=2)