JANUARY : New PASSENGER CAR REGISTRATIONS worsen in Europe and record nine consecutive decline
New PASSENGER CAR REGISTRATIONS market collapse worsened in Europe in January year-on-year and plummeted -27% , (-17.8% in December, -25.8% in November and -14.5% October) In France, registrations fell -7.9% on the same period while major trade partners recorded stronger car sales contractions: in Germany, registrations decreased by 14.2% in Spain by 41.6% in Italy by 32.6% and in the UK by 30.9%. In the EU 15, car registrations fell -26.3%, tumbled -66.5% in Ireland, -43.1% in Portugal, and -46.4% in Finland. In Denmark, car sales plummeted -46%. The car registrations market in Iceland remained at abysmal levels, -88.1% as well as in Norway -45.9% In east European member states, the car market fell harder than in the EU 27 although in Poland, along with the Czech Republic, markets declined respectively -5.3%, and -12.3% less abruptly than neighboring countries: in Latvia, car sales nose dived -77.5% in Lithuania -67.3% in Estonia -61.6% and in Romania -53.2% Per car manufacturer and in total Europe in one year, Volkswagen Group maintained the lead with the largest market share 20.8%, up +1.8% compared with the previous year, followed by PSA Peugeot at 13.4% market penetration (13% in 2008) and Ford at 10.7% (10% the previous year). Renault Group market share slid to 7.5% from 8.3% All major car manufacturers recorded massive car sales contractions with the exception of Jaguar +19.4% to 1 988 units. PSA Peugeot sales plunged -24.8% to 128 272 vehicles sold, Renault's -33.9% to 72 038 units as sales of Dacia dived -33%
FEBRUARY : New PASSENGER CAR REGISTRATIONS market keep deteriorating in Europe, tenth consecutive decline
New PASSENGER CAR REGISTRATIONS kept worsening in Europe and plunged -18.3% year-on-year (-27% last month, -17.8% in December, -25.8% in November and -14.5% October) as market contractions impacted east European member states more abruptly -30.3% than the Euro area -16.9% and for the second consecutive month. In the EU 15, France’s new passenger car registrations dipped -13.2% cushioned by motor vehicles tax reforms under fleet renewal incentives, while sales in Germany surged +21.5% due to similar bonus type motivations. France’s other major trade partners, Italy, Spain and the UK recorded market downturns with sales plunging respectively -24.4% -48.8% and -21.9%. Nordic states observed similar market collapses with car sales diving -43.1% in Denmark, -40.3% in Finland and -31.1% in Sweden. In the EFTA region, sales kept nose diving in Iceland -91.2%, -40.5% in Norway and -21.8% in Switzerland. In Eastern Europe, new passenger car registrations surged only in Poland +7.3% and fell the hardest in Latvia -76.2% Lithuania -73.8% Romania -66.5% and Estonia -63.2% .
Per car manufacturer and on the same period, overall car registrations decreased by a massive -18.3% Sales of PSA Peugeot declined -27.3% to 125 443 units sold and a lower market share 13% compared with 14.2% a year earlier. New passenger car registrations out of the Renault Group also observed a down curve -23.1% to 84 327 vehicles and 8.7% market penetration compared with 9.3% last year. Despite such grim global environment, some best performers resisted the market collapse: Fiat Group Alpha Romeo sales jumped +23.3% with 0.8% market share compared with 0.5% last year,
sales of Hyundai grew +20.2% with market penetration at 2.7% (1.8% last year) and Jaguar’s new car registrations rebounded +12.3% with a stable market share. On the cumulative January-February period and year on year, total car sales in Europe mirrored the February trend, -22.6% as car registrations plummeted -22.5% in Eastern Europe, -29.3% in the EFTA region, and -21.8% in The EU 15. France and Luxembourg observed a lesser market downturns, respectively -10.6% and -9.4% Sales in Germany mechanically grew +4%, while sales in Ireland recorded the strongest gap -65.3%
Per manufacturer and on the same cumulative period, sales fell overall -22.6% Sales of PSA Peugeot fell -25.1% to 253 661 vehicles with a lesser market share 13.1% compared with 13.6%. Renault Group sales dipped
-28.5% to 156 425 units and 8.1% market share (versus 8.8% the previous year same period) Due to the February surge, sales of Jaguar jumped +18.8% with market penetration at 0.2% compared with 0.1% the previous year.
MARCH: New PASSENGER CAR REGISTRATIONS deteriorate further in Europe
New PASSENGER CAR REGISTRATIONS declined for the eleventh consecutive month year-on-year in Europe, -9% in March, but to a lesser extent than in previous months (-18.3% last month, -27% in January, -17.8% in December, -25.8% in November and -14.5% October) although market contractions impacted east European member states more abruptly -25.4% than the Euro area -8% (-16.9% in February) and for the third consecutive month.
In the EU 15, France and Germany recorded the only positive figures respectively +8% and +39.9% ( -13.2% and +21.5% last month) pushed up by motor vehicles tax reforms under fleet renewal incentives. France’s other major trade partners, Spain -38.7% and the UK -30.5% observed market deteriorations while sales grew a modest +0.2% in Italy. In the EFTA region, sales kept nose diving in Iceland -91.5%, -20% in Norway and only decreased by 0.2% in Switzerland (-21.8% last month).
In Eastern Europe, new passenger car registrations surged only in Poland +2.5%, the Czech Republic +0.9% and Slovakia +18.2% and fell the hardest in Latvia -80.3% Lithuania -69.9% Romania -64.8% and Estonia -67.8% In the first quarter and year on year, sales plummeted -16.2% in the EU 15, -28.6% in eastern Europe and -17.2% in total Europe. Best performers counted only two member states Germany +18% and Poland +1.3%. France’s new passenger car registrations fell -3.9%, the UK -29.7%, Spain -43.1% and Italy -19.1%. Ireland recorded worst performance -64.9%.
Per car manufacturer and year on year to March, sales of Peugeot PSA fell -9.1% and Renault -10.9% with a stable market share for Peugeot 11.9% while Renault’s shrank to 8.2% from 8.4% On the quarterly period to March and year on year, Peugeot market penetration fell to 12.6% from 12.9% with total sales down -19.2% Renault sales decreased by 21.7% with market penetration at 8.1% compared with 8.6%. Alfa Romeo and Hyundai posted best results with sales respectively climbing +12.5% (market share rose to 2.4% from 1.8%) and +20.1% (market share rose to 0.8% from 0.5%).
