No improvement in sight, a problem for all major automakers, including the Detroit Three who are losing billions in the Eurozone.
A total of 1,038,343 personal vehicles were sold in EU the during April, a small + 1.7% gain that was statistical quirk since the month had two more selling days because the Easter holidays fell in March.
This was the third lowest level of new registrations for a month of April, with the historic low for April reached in 2012 at 1,021,358 units, according to ACEA, the Brussels-based automaker trade group.
Four months into 2013 new car registrations were 4,026,946 units or -7% less than in the same period a year ago as the Euro-zone economic crisis continues. The largest European economy, Germany posted a modest +3.8% gain at 284,444, with the non-euro UK growing 15% at 163,357. Relatively small Spain was up +10.8% or 62,317. However, France (-5.3% at 157,749) and Italy (-10.8% or 116,209) continued their downturns.
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. The average rate of unemployment for the 17-nation Euro zone is 12% with many economies at twice that level.
From January to April, the UK remained the only major market to post growth (+8.9%, 768,555). Spain (-6.7%, 243,042), Germany (-8.5%, 958,401), France (-12.3%, 591,631) and Italy (-12.3%, 471,750) all saw demand decline, leading to the overall decline.
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About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, publisher (kzhw@aol.com), 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.
Zino is at home on test tracks, knows his way around U.S. Congressional hearing rooms, auto company headquarters, plant floors, as well as industry research and development labs where the real mobility work is done. He can quote from court decisions, refer to instrumented road tests, analyze financial results, and profile executive personalities and corporate cultures.
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 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.
