Finnish new passenger car registrations went up 21.9% year-on-year to 25,094 cars for the first two months of 2003, the Finnish News Digest said, citing car market information centre Autoalan Tiedotuskeskus.
Car sales in Finland were boosted by the car tax reduction, approved by Parliament on February 18, 2003, which came into effect retroactively from January 1, 2003. Car dealers decreased prices in January 2003 and passenger car registrations went up 15.7% year-on-year for the month.
New passenger car registrations stood at 11,054 for February 2003, a year-on-year increase of 30.7%. New van, truck and bus registrations also rose in February 2003, compared to February 2002. No comparative figures were available.
Car dealers see sales of 130,000 cars for 2003.