Registrations of new passenger cars increased 4.5% in the EU during May, the ninth consecutive month of improvements year-over-year. While seemingly good news, the 1,093,448 units registered was the second lowest result to date for a month of May since ACEA – the automaker’s trade group – began tracking numbers in 2003 with the enlarged EU.
During May 2014, Italy was the only major market to face a downturn (-3.8). All other major markets contributed to the overall 4.5% expansion of the EU market, with growth ranging from +0.3% in France, +5.2% in Germany, +7.7% in the UK to +16.9% in Spain.
The winners were Volkswagen +9.6%, Peugeot +4.3%, Renault +18.8%, Daimler +3.6%, Toyota +3.4%, Nissan +10.7%, Losers were General Motors -6.8%, Ford -2.%, BMW -2.2%, Fiat -2.7%, Hyundai -2.7%.
Five months into 2014, new passenger car registrations increased by 6.9%, totaling 5,431,921 units. From January to May, all major markets posted growth, contributing to an overall +6.9% upturn. The increase in passenger car registrations during this period ranged from 3% in France, 3.2% in Italy, 3.4% in Germany to 11.6% in the UK and 16.3% in Spain.
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.
