APRIL New PASSENGER CAR MARKET collapse worsens in Europe
New PASSENGER CAR REGISTRATIONS dipped for the twelve consecutive month year on year in Europe, -12.3% in April (-9% in March, -18.3% in February, -27% in January, -17.8% in December, -25.8% in November and -14.5% October) and market contractions impacted east European member states more abruptly -21.4% (-25.4% in March) than the EU 15 -11.2% (-8% last month) and for the fourth consecutive month.
In the EU 15, France’s new registrations fell -7.1% unlike Germany’s +19.4% (+39.9% last month) although each country benefit from motor vehicles tax reforms under fleet renewal incentives.
France’s other major trade partners observed market deteriorations : in Spain, new passenger car registrations dived -45.6% ( -38.7% in March), in the UK -24% (-30.5% last month) and in Italy -7.5% (+0.2% last month). In the EFTA region, new car sales slightly picked up in Iceland but remained at rock bottom level -88.4% (-91.5% in March), worsened in Norway -35.9% (-20% last month) and collapsed anew -20% in Switzerland (- 0.2% in March and -21.8% in February).
In eastern Europe, new passenger car registrations surged again in Poland +2.4%, jumped +19% in the Czech Republic (+0.9% last month) and in Slovakia +43.5% (+18.2% in March) but fell the hardest and for the second consecutive month in Latvia -85.4% (-80.3% in March) and in Lithuania -74.4% (-69.9% last month). In Romania, sales picked up although to negative levels -51.8% (-64.8% last month) and in Estonia -65.2% (-67.8% last month). From January through April and year on year, new car sales tumbled -15.9% in Europe as registrations dived -14.9% in the EU 15, -26.3% in eastern Europe and -23% in EFTA countries. In France, new registrations decreased by 4.8%, but rose +18.4% in Germany, the only positive figure and for the second consecutive month. Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic remained best performers in eastern Europe with new registrations climbing respectively +0.3% +1.6% and +1.8%.
Per car manufacturer and year on year to April, sales of Peugeot PSA fell -14.7% (-9.1% last month) with market share at 12.5% (12.9% last year). Renault’s sales declined -14% with market share at 8.8% (9% last year). Between January and April year on year, each car manufacturer’s market share contracted although modestly respectively to 12.6% (from 12.9%) and to 8.3% (from 8.7%). On the same cumulative period, new car sales tumbled -18% for Peugeot PSA to 590 295 units and for Renault -19.7% to 389 968 vehicles.
Sales of Renault’s Dacia remained positive +60% year on year to April (market share to 1.9% from 1% last year) and +6% in the four month cumulative period with market penetration at 1.4% (1% last year).
Hyundai posted best results with sales climbing +9.7% year on year and +11% from January through April with market share at 2.2% (from 1.8%) and at 2.3% (from 1.7%)
MAY New PASSENGER CAR REGISTRATIONS improve
New PASSENGER CAR REGISTRATIONS in total Europe picked up from abysmal levels for the first time since March of last year and fell -4.9% to May year on year in Europe. France’s car sales jumped +11.8% on the same period boosted by motor vehicles tax reforms under fleet renewal incentives. The EU 15 new passenger car registrations dipped -2.7% impacted upwards by Germany +39.7% where similar fleet renewals encouraged sales, Austria +4.8%,and Greece +5.1% while new registrations deteriorated in Italy -8.6% and remained dire in the UK at -24.8%. In eastern Europe, market contraction pushed down sales to -26% recording thus the fifth consecutive decline despite continuous vibrant sales in the Czech Republic +20.5% and Slovakia +46.4%. By contrast, sales plummeted -80.4% in Latvia, -76.3% in Estonia, -44.8% in Bulgaria, and took a pause in Poland -3.1% In EFTA countries, new registrations bettered in Iceland to -84.7% (from -88.4%) in Norway -27.4%, and in Switzerland -16.1%.
From January through May and year on year, car sales fell -12.5% in the EU 15, -12.8% in EFTA and -27.9% in eastern Europe taking overall sales to -13.7% in the European Union and including EFTA to -13.9% France’s sales decreased by 1.4%, Germany’s leaped +22.8%, the sole EU 15 positive figure for the third consecutive month. The Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia outperformed in number their western European counterparts with registrations climbing respectively +5.5%+0.7% and +1.3%. Per car manufacturer and year on year to March, sales of Peugeot PSA fell -5.9% to 165 167 vehicles and an improved market penetration 13% (12.5% in April). Renault’s sales decreased by 4.4% or 112 064 units with a steady 8.8% market share while Dacia remained the Group‘s best item with 99.8% sales increase. On the same period, best performers included VW Group +3.1% Fiat Group +2%Hyundai +25.1% and Suzuki +3% On the January-May cumulative period, Peugeot PSA new car registrations contracted by 15.6% to 755 868 vehicles, with a nearly stable market share 12.6% Renault’s market penetration fell to 8.4% from 8.7% year on year with sales down -16.7% to 502 103 units with Dacia sales up 21.8%. Hyundai posted best results of all manufacturers with sales up 13.5% to 136 956 vehicles and constantly increasing its market share 2.3% (from 1.7% in April).
JUNE New PASSENGER CAR REGISTRATIONS improve further
New PASSENGER CAR REGISTRATIONS in total Europe surged to positive figures, +2.4% year-on-year and for the first time in 14 months pushed up +5.3% by car fleet renewals implemented by 14 member states in the EU 15. Car sales in France rose +7% for the second consecutive month on the same period but a new car plates system, partially implemented, may have carried over unregistered vehicles from the previous month. Germany’s sales jumped +40.5% recording their fifth consecutive increase since February. New car sales increased in Austria and Italy as well, respectively +4% and +12.4% while sales fell -15.5% in Spain and -15.7% in the UK. In eastern Europe, the severity of the recession led new car sales to pick up modestly to -25.3% (from
-26%) as only two member states vibrant markets, the Czech Republic and Slovakia remained upbeat, with car sales rising respectively +18% and +57.4%.
Sales deteriorated further in Romania for the sixth consecutive month and fell -61%, while market contractions in Latvia and Hungary slightly improved. In EFTA countries, new vehicles registrations climbed back to
-16.4% (from the previous -21.3%) as sales in Iceland rose to -63.7% from rock bottom levels, in Norway to -21.6% and in Switzerland to -11.5%. From January through June and year on year, car sales fell -9.4% in the EU 15, -20.5% in EFTA countries and -27.1% in eastern Europe taking overall sales to -11% in total Europe, and -10.8% in the European Union. Sales in France stayed quasi stable or +0.2% compared with Germany’s magnificent +26.1% the sole EU 15 positive figure for the fourth consecutive month. The Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia remained eastern Europe’s best of class with consecutive sale increases since April, respectively +7.9%, quasi stable or +0.2% for the region’s biggest economy as a pause compared with the previous period, and +18.4%.
Per car manufacturer and year-on-year to June, sales of Peugeot PSA rebounded +6.6% to 184 783 units and a stronger market penetration 13.4% (13% in May). Renault Group ’s sales surged +8.5% to 130 352 vehicles and a substantial market share gain, 9.4% (8.8% in May) with Dacia sales skyrocketing +181.9% on the same period while Renault sales fell -3.2%. Best performers for consistent sales increases since March, Fiat Group and Hyundai maintained their leadership, with sales rising respectively +13.2% with 120 479 new car registrations, and +32.1% with 31 766 new units sold. Sales also surged at VW Group +12.4% with 292 957 new car registrations, Ford +4% with 138 978 new units sold, Nissan +12.9% ( 31 366 units) , Suzuki +14.5% (22 259 units) and Kia +12.8% (21 212 units). On the January-June cumulative period, Peugeot PSA new car registrations contracted by 11.2% to 909 503 vehicles, with a quasi stable market share at 13% (from 13.2%) Renault Group’s market penetration performed similarly, down to 8.4% (from 8.5%) year-on-year. Cumulative sales fell -10.4% to 586 463 units while Dacia sales jumped +99.8% . Hyundai posted best results of all manufacturers with sales up 19.5% to 154 343 vehicles and a quasi stable market share at 2.2% (from 2.3 in May), stabilizing for the first time since its constant increasing trend since March.
