Figures issued today by the European carmakers’ association ACEA show that new car sales in Western Europe picked up in September. ACEA said that the September market reached 1.36 million units, 4.4% ahead of last year’s result. However, cumulative car sales in the first nine months remained down on last year at 11 million units, 1.5% below the same period last year.
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ACEA said in a statement that the positive result ‘looks encouraging as the economic context remains sluggish, according to most indicators.’ ACEA pointed to a strengthening of consumer confidence in some markets, ‘price incentives proposed by some manufacturers’ and an extra working day in September 2003 over September 2002 as factors behind the monthly sales increase.
The ACEA national figures show that ten out of the fifteen countries covered (including the five largest markets) turned in gains during September. The German market (Europe’s largest) was up 6.8% in September (266,000 units). The VDA has recently said that the German market is also benefiting from the post-Frankfurt launch of key new models, including the Volkswagen Golf and Opel Astra.
ACEA also published manufacturer level sales detail that showed Renault, DaimlerChrysler and Asian makes (Japanese and Korean) among the largest gainers during September. DC saw significant gains in its Mercedes-Benz, smart and Chrysler brands. Renault’s gains were driven by stronger sales of the Megane range – helped by the addition of new variants – and the new Scenic.
Among the various Japanese and Korean makes, strong gains were again posted in September by several makers: Toyota and Lexus (+9.8%); Nissan (+18.8%); Mitsubishi (+18.5%); Mazda (+10.2%); Suzuki (+16.4%); Kia (+44.3%).
Market leading Volkswagen Group saw sales under its Volkswagen brand decline by 1.7% in September over the same month last year, in spite of some fillip from the arrival of the new Golf (yet to work through fully). Fiat Group was also down in September (-0.7%) but the decline has been kept down by the arrival of new product. Ford Group posted one of the worst manufacturer performances with sales in September down 5.1% over last year and declines across all brands except Jaguar.
