Currently reading: European car sales decline
New car sales suffer dramatic downturn in March

Economic recession might not have officially arrived – but the European car market is already suffering.Car sales in Germany, the continent’s biggest market, fell by 14 per cent in March compared with the same period last year. Italy and Spain had even bigger declines, with falls of 19 per cent and 28 per cent respectively, although the Spanish figure was influenced in part by the ending of scrapping incentives on older cars.Figures released by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) show that most mainstream makers have suffered from the decline; Ford posted a 12 per cent drop in sales, GM’s and VW’s figures both fell 13 per cent and Peugeot saw a 14 per cent dip.The figures will trigger alarm across the car industry, which is already suffering from over-capacity and profit margins that have been cut to the bone. New-car purchases are traditionally one of the first areas of consumer spending to suffer in an economic downturn.There was some good news in the report, though; Nissan posted an increase in sales on the back of the success of the Sunderland-built Qashqai, posting a 37 per cent year-on-year increase.

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ordinary bloke 19 April 2008

Re: European car sales decline

loather wrote:
do check your facts first
I'm reminded of that old saying "there are lies, damn lies and statistics". As there are too many new cars being produced out there, I can't help feeling that we perhaps all ought to be keeping our cars a bit longer rather than changing them so often. It pains me to say this as a longstanding enthusiast, but we've got to stop wasting resources in this way sometime soon, and if a few brands go to the wall, so be it.

superstevie 18 April 2008

Re: European car sales decline

I hardly think a couple of days holiday is going to affect sales that much. If someone wants a car they will buy a new car. Besides, your theory doesnt take into fact germany which isnt as religeous as italy and spain.

There is an economic turn down through out europe, you cant deny that.

sierra 17 April 2008

Re: European car sales decline

In fact most Spanish car dealers work a five-day week (Monday to Friday). So there were a potential 21 working days in March - but there were two public holidays Good Friday and either the preceeding Thursday (Maundy Day) or Wednesday (San Jose). However a large percentage of the country had the whole of Holy Week off. Also there was a general election at the beginning of the month.