Of the five major EU markets, only the non-Euro using UK showed sales growth.
Sales of new light vehicles in the EU declined once again in March as the rate of contraction increased. During the month passenger cars sales dropped -10.2% compared to – 9.8% less in the first three months of 2012. It was the eighteenth consecutive month of sales declines. Q1 sales of 2,989,486 were weak and apparently getting weaker as the year continues.
There’s no good news is in sight for the balance of 2013, a problem for virtually all major automakers, including the Detroit Three who are losing billions there and will continue to do so in spite of years of turnaround plans.
Of the major markets, only the non-Euro using UK showed growth of 5.9% to 395,000 vehicles. Italy (-4.9% at 132,000), Spain (-13.9% at 73,000), France (-16.2% at 166,000) and Germany (-17.1% at 281,000) saw demand decrease. Overall, the 27 countries in the EU recorded a total of 1,307,107 new cars,
From January to March, except for the UK (+7.4%), all major markets faced a double-digit downturn ranging from -11.5% in Spain to -12.9% in Germany, -13.0% in Italy and -14.6% in France. (Read AutoInformed on Global Light Vehicle Sales Steady in March at 81.3 Million Rate)
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.
