Global Light Vehicle (LV) sales fell by 7.3% year-on-year (YoY) during November, according to consultancy LMC Automotive. The selling rate slipped to 91.2 mn units/year from October’s 92.2 mn units/year. Global sales are now virtually flat in year-to-date (YTD) terms.
The Chinese LV market continues to slow down, “a major source of concern given the importance of this market to global sales.” Other regions are also struggling, with YoY losses in Europe and North America, though selling rates remain robust in North America.
North America
November LV sales in the U.S. finished with 1,381,000 units sold, down by 1% YoY. The November volume translates to an annualized selling rate of 17.4 mn units/year, down 140k units from last year and 122k from last month. Retail deliveries dropped by 2.1% to 1,121,000 units, while fleet kept its growth streak going, rising by 4.2% YoY at 260k units. Pickups and SUVs enjoyed growth of at least 6%.
Sales dropped 7.5% in Canada in November. The 147k units sold represent a selling rate of 2.1 mn units/year – the eighth month in 2018 that the selling rate has been above 2 mn units/year, and up by 74k from last month. In Mexico, sales plunged by 5.2% YoY to 133k units. This was the 18th consecutive drop, and the annualized selling rate stayed around 1.4 mn units/year, up 38k from last month.
Europe
West European LV registrations fell by 7.3% YoY in November, with the recovery from WLTP-related disruption continuing at a slower pace than expected. The regional selling rate climbed slightly higher, to 15.3 mn units/year, from 14.6 mn units/year in October. In YTD terms, the region is now barely ahead of its 2017 performance. Although selling rates should pick up in December, a weakening economic picture and political uncertainty in some key markets present downside risks.
In Russia, a total of 167k LVs were purchased in November, a 10% increase YoY. The selling rate came in above 2 mn units/year, the best monthly performance since late 2014. LV sales could therefore reach 1.82 mn units this year, representing an increase of almost 14%. The latest data suggests that we may see a larger than expected boost in Q4 as consumers pull forward car purchases in anticipation of the forthcoming VAT hike. Elsewhere, Turkey pulled down the Eastern Europe total.
China
In China, sales continued to decelerate sharply in the face of an uncertain economic outlook. Advance data indicate that the selling rate weakened to 25.2 mn units/year in November, the seventh consecutive month of MoM decline, dragged down by sluggish Personal Vehicle (PV) sales. On a YoY basis, sales fell by 14% in November. PV sales are now set to register the first annual contraction on record, while Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sales are expected to end the year with the first expansion since 2010.
In the PV market, some consumers are holding off on purchases, ahead of the planned implementation of the State VI emission standard in 2019. In the LCV market, the abolition of the transport certificate and permit for light trucks in some provinces (which will be implemented nationwide next year) has led to lower costs, which, along with growing e-commerce, is leading to brisk sales.
Other Asia
The Japanese market remains surprisingly buoyant, with the selling rate reaching almost 5.5 mn units/year in November, little changed from October. Full employment and rising wages continue to boost consumer spending, while businesses are benefitting from a weak yen. On a YoY basis, sales increased by nearly 9% in November, since sales a year ago were disrupted by scandals and recalls at Nissan and Subaru.
South Korea‘s November selling rate of 1.77 mn units/year was almost 12% lower than the October rate, but that was due to a distortion caused by the timing of the lunar Chuseok holiday (which fell in September this year). On a YoY basis, sales declined only marginally, dragged down by sluggish PV sales. PV sales have so far failed to surge strongly, despite the ongoing temporary tax cut.
South America
In Brazil, the selling rate slowed to 2.5 mn units/year in November, after an exceptionally strong October. Yet, on a YoY basis, sales increased by nearly 12% in November. With the election of the right-wing Jair Bolsonaro as the next president, the financial markets have rallied, but the real economy remains weak. The new president (who takes office on 1 January) plans to implement fiscal reforms, which could possibly derail the recovery in the automotive market next year.
The Argentine market continues to nose-dive, as the economy is falling into a deep recession. Sales declined by 45% YoY in November, the sixth consecutive month of double-digit decline, hampered by a plunge in the peso, soaring inflation and interest rates, and the government’s fiscal austerity measures. Sales are not expected to bottom out at least until mid-2019.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, 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.
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 during a downshift 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.
Global Light Vehicle Sales Fall Again in November
Global Light Vehicle (LV) sales fell by 7.3% year-on-year (YoY) during November, according to consultancy LMC Automotive. The selling rate slipped to 91.2 mn units/year from October’s 92.2 mn units/year. Global sales are now virtually flat in year-to-date (YTD) terms.
The Chinese LV market continues to slow down, “a major source of concern given the importance of this market to global sales.” Other regions are also struggling, with YoY losses in Europe and North America, though selling rates remain robust in North America.
North America
November LV sales in the U.S. finished with 1,381,000 units sold, down by 1% YoY. The November volume translates to an annualized selling rate of 17.4 mn units/year, down 140k units from last year and 122k from last month. Retail deliveries dropped by 2.1% to 1,121,000 units, while fleet kept its growth streak going, rising by 4.2% YoY at 260k units. Pickups and SUVs enjoyed growth of at least 6%.
Sales dropped 7.5% in Canada in November. The 147k units sold represent a selling rate of 2.1 mn units/year – the eighth month in 2018 that the selling rate has been above 2 mn units/year, and up by 74k from last month. In Mexico, sales plunged by 5.2% YoY to 133k units. This was the 18th consecutive drop, and the annualized selling rate stayed around 1.4 mn units/year, up 38k from last month.
Europe
West European LV registrations fell by 7.3% YoY in November, with the recovery from WLTP-related disruption continuing at a slower pace than expected. The regional selling rate climbed slightly higher, to 15.3 mn units/year, from 14.6 mn units/year in October. In YTD terms, the region is now barely ahead of its 2017 performance. Although selling rates should pick up in December, a weakening economic picture and political uncertainty in some key markets present downside risks.
In Russia, a total of 167k LVs were purchased in November, a 10% increase YoY. The selling rate came in above 2 mn units/year, the best monthly performance since late 2014. LV sales could therefore reach 1.82 mn units this year, representing an increase of almost 14%. The latest data suggests that we may see a larger than expected boost in Q4 as consumers pull forward car purchases in anticipation of the forthcoming VAT hike. Elsewhere, Turkey pulled down the Eastern Europe total.
China
In China, sales continued to decelerate sharply in the face of an uncertain economic outlook. Advance data indicate that the selling rate weakened to 25.2 mn units/year in November, the seventh consecutive month of MoM decline, dragged down by sluggish Personal Vehicle (PV) sales. On a YoY basis, sales fell by 14% in November. PV sales are now set to register the first annual contraction on record, while Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sales are expected to end the year with the first expansion since 2010.
In the PV market, some consumers are holding off on purchases, ahead of the planned implementation of the State VI emission standard in 2019. In the LCV market, the abolition of the transport certificate and permit for light trucks in some provinces (which will be implemented nationwide next year) has led to lower costs, which, along with growing e-commerce, is leading to brisk sales.
Other Asia
The Japanese market remains surprisingly buoyant, with the selling rate reaching almost 5.5 mn units/year in November, little changed from October. Full employment and rising wages continue to boost consumer spending, while businesses are benefitting from a weak yen. On a YoY basis, sales increased by nearly 9% in November, since sales a year ago were disrupted by scandals and recalls at Nissan and Subaru.
South Korea‘s November selling rate of 1.77 mn units/year was almost 12% lower than the October rate, but that was due to a distortion caused by the timing of the lunar Chuseok holiday (which fell in September this year). On a YoY basis, sales declined only marginally, dragged down by sluggish PV sales. PV sales have so far failed to surge strongly, despite the ongoing temporary tax cut.
South America
In Brazil, the selling rate slowed to 2.5 mn units/year in November, after an exceptionally strong October. Yet, on a YoY basis, sales increased by nearly 12% in November. With the election of the right-wing Jair Bolsonaro as the next president, the financial markets have rallied, but the real economy remains weak. The new president (who takes office on 1 January) plans to implement fiscal reforms, which could possibly derail the recovery in the automotive market next year.
The Argentine market continues to nose-dive, as the economy is falling into a deep recession. Sales declined by 45% YoY in November, the sixth consecutive month of double-digit decline, hampered by a plunge in the peso, soaring inflation and interest rates, and the government’s fiscal austerity measures. Sales are not expected to bottom out at least until mid-2019.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, 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. 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 during a downshift 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.