If EU central banks had studied Keynes the recovery would be further along.
During February 2015, EU passenger car registrations increased for the eighteenth consecutive month at 924,440 or +7.3% year-over-year. Although the pace is still far below the pre-Great recession pace as contractionist monetary polices inhibited the recover for years.
All major markets were up. Notable were Spain (+26.1% at 86,717), Italy (+13.2% at 134,697) and the UK (+12.0% at 76,958) all posting double‐digit growth. Germany – by far the biggest market and healthiest economy in the trade bloc – was up +6.6% for 223,254units. France increased +4.5% with the sale of 147,584 passenger cars.
From January to February 2015, new passenger car registrations increased by 7%, totaling almost 2 million units (1,923,484). Most major markets posted growth, contributing to the overall upturn of the EU market. Germany (+4.6%), France (+5.3%), the UK (+8.3%), Italy (+12.3%) and Spain (+26.7%) increased over this period.
FCA’s, aka Fiat Chrysler, European sales growth in February was higher than the industry average, increasing 11.2% year-over-year to more than 66,000 vehicles. Market share was 6.9%, compared with 6.6% in February a year ago and 6.2% in January 2015.
The Group posted significant increases in all major markets. In addition to a 13.4% increase in Italy, FCA also outperformed the industry in Germany (+9.6%), France (+8.9%) and Spain (+40.9% vs 26.1% for the industry). In the UK, sales were up 10.8% versus February a year ago.
Yes, VW Group continues to dominate in Europe.
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.
