The European economy remains weak with no end to the Euro zone debt crisis in sight.
EU car sales declined 2% in July but increased by 7.7% in August, recording growth for only the third time during the year in the European Union.
In July, the EU posted registrations of 1,012,910 new cars compared to the year earlier period. In the largest markets, only Germany posted growth (+10%), while Italy (-10%), France (-6%), Spain (-4%) and the UK (-4%) all saw their markets decrease.
August results were somewhat better when compared to a weak August in 2010 (+8%) as new EU registrations totaled 753,709 in the month. Most markets expanded, including all the bigger ones. Germany (+18%), the UK (+7%), Spain (+6%), France (+3%) and Italy (+2%) all performed better than last year.
However, eight months into 2011, a total of 8,888,793 new cars were registered in the EU, or 1.3% less than in the same period a year ago, according to data the automakers’ trade group (ACEA) released today. This means the EU market in total has been shrinking for almost four straight years.
Germany posted double-digit growth (+11.2%), France remained stable (+0.4%), the UK was down 6.1%, Italy contracted by 12.0% and Spain fell by 22.2%.
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.
