Volkswagen brand with more than a 12% share leads all other auto brands by more than a 2:1 ratio.
In September, EU sales showed demand for new passenger cars was slightly up in the countries in the European Union (+0.6%), totaling 1,231,147 units. However, EU car sales year-to-date are down once again. If this negative sales trend continues – as it has for the past three years – it will mark the fourth straight year that car sales in Europe have decreased. As in other regions, the automobile industry is a major contributor to economic growth and jobs.
During the first nine months of 2011, 10,121,423 new cars were registered in the region, or 1.1% less than in the same period a year ago. Fiat, the owner of Chrysler, Ford and General Motors are struggling to keep their European operations viable as all are losing market share.
September sales results showed a slight increase because of German demand. Germany was the only major market to post growth (+8.1%) while the downturn ranged from 0.8% in the UK to 1.3% in Spain, 1.4% in France and 5.7% in Italy, which is experiencing political and economic chaos with the government likely to fall. Volkswagen Group and Volkswagen brand remain the clear volume leaders in Europe.
Year-to-date performances were varied across the region, leading to an overall 1.1% decline. Looking at the largest countries, the UK (-5.0%), Italy (-11.3%) and Spain (-20.7%) all saw their markets contract, while France remained stable (+0.2%), and Germany posted a double-digit growth (+10.8%).
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, publisher (kzhw@aol.com), is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
Zino is at home on test tracks, knows his way around U.S. Congressional hearing rooms, auto company headquarters, plant floors, as well as industry research and development labs where the real mobility work is done. He can quote from court decisions, refer to instrumented road tests, analyze financial results, and profile executive personalities and corporate cultures.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
