Euro auto sales slump, Germany bucks trend
Sunday, 15 March 2009
BRUSSELS, Mar 14, (AFP): European auto sales tumbled 18.3 per cent in February, a sharp fall from a year earlier that could have been worse but for a strong performance in Germany, industry figures showed today.
Sales in Germany, Europe's biggest economy, jumped 21.5 per cent on the back of government incentives to encourage motorists to trade in their cars for newer, less polluting models, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) said.
All other countries except for Luxembourg, up 0.3 per cent, and Poland, up 7.3 per cent, fell as the global economic slump undercut demand.
In France, February sales were down 13.2 per cent, Spain plunged 48.8 per cent, Italy fell 24.4 per cent and Britain dropped 21.9 per cent.
Total European car sales in the month came to 968,159. In January, new car sales plunged 27 per cent to 958,517.
The ACEA figures cover 28 countries -- 25 from the EU, where Cyprus and Malta are not included, plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.
Germany giant Volkswagen February car sales fell 10.2 per cent from a year earlier but its market share was up two per centage points at 21.7 per cent.
German luxury brand BMW saw its sales plunge 29.2 per cent, with Daimler sinking 29.8 per cent.
The ACEA recently warned that European auto output will fall 25 per cent this year as the industry struggles in the global economic crisis.
Sales in Germany, Europe's biggest economy, jumped 21.5 per cent on the back of government incentives to encourage motorists to trade in their cars for newer, less polluting models, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) said.
All other countries except for Luxembourg, up 0.3 per cent, and Poland, up 7.3 per cent, fell as the global economic slump undercut demand.
In France, February sales were down 13.2 per cent, Spain plunged 48.8 per cent, Italy fell 24.4 per cent and Britain dropped 21.9 per cent.
Total European car sales in the month came to 968,159. In January, new car sales plunged 27 per cent to 958,517.
The ACEA figures cover 28 countries -- 25 from the EU, where Cyprus and Malta are not included, plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.
Germany giant Volkswagen February car sales fell 10.2 per cent from a year earlier but its market share was up two per centage points at 21.7 per cent.
German luxury brand BMW saw its sales plunge 29.2 per cent, with Daimler sinking 29.8 per cent.
The ACEA recently warned that European auto output will fall 25 per cent this year as the industry struggles in the global economic crisis.