Car sales in 2009

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) published the new car sales figures for 2009, and the data turned out to be quite encouraging given the bleak forecasts at the start of the year. In total, 14.4 million new cars were sold, compared with 14.7 million in 2008, a poor year for sales that represents a drop of 1.6%.

If we break the data down a little further, in the EU-15, the countries with the highest income levels, sales rose by 0.9%, while in the EU-27 they fell by 1.3%. If we add to the statistics the countries that have free trade agreements, the decline rises to 1.6%, which is nothing too scandalous given how hard the crisis has hit this year.

It is worth noting that the countries that increased sales were Germany, with a strong rise of 23% (700,000 more cars in total, quite a remarkable figure) thanks to government aid, France, Austria, the Czech Republic and Poland. The rest either fell or held steady, as in the case of Italy. Spain in particular fell by 18% despite the 2000E plan.

In conclusion, we can say that global figures have not been overly alarming, mainly thanks to the German government, which, once again, has pulled the cart. Although sales have not fallen, let us hope that in 2010 the figures improve, there is less instability in jobs, and news about growth in the sector fills our website.

Via | Diariomotor