Spain’s car sales outlook is improving, boosted by rising demand of higher-priced vehicles, top dealers’ federation Faconauto announced on Tuesday.
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The group, which represents 3,000 dealers, said sales would fall 1.7% to 1,501,875 cars in 2006, down from a previously estimated 2.5% decline, which was later revised to 2.1%.
In May, Spaniards spent an average of EUR21,730 per car, up 3.4% from the prior-year month, Faconauto said, adding that drivers bought cars that were 0.9% bigger and 2.7% more powerful.
Despite soaring petrol prices, car engines improved fuel consumption by 1.5% to 16.9km per litre, Faconauto noted.
The federation acknowledged that the numbers were slightly illogical, given high petrol prices and rising interest rates in Spain.
These factors “could have a [negative] effect in sales in the near term,” it warned.
May vehicle registrations (including sedans and SUVs) rose 1.8% to 153,463 units last month, Faconauto added, highlighting a 17% jump in SUV sales to 12,048 units.
Ivan Castano
