General Motors and Volkswagen have expressed optimism that their production rates will increase this year on the back of rising global demand for their Spanish-made models, the two carmakers said on Wednesday.
The statements came as Spain’s car industry, Europe’s fifth largest, announced sales rose 3.1% last year though it expects a 7% decline in 2011.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
GM expects to assemble 400,000 vehicles in its main factory of Figuerelas, 40,000 more than last year, according to GM Spain general manager Antonio Cabo. Opel has the redesigned Meriva minivan which Cabo said has been a “great sales success” and of which Figuerelas expects to make 90,000 units this year. It will also launch the next Corsa model which will have a “younger” design and will account for 50% of the factory’s production.
Cabo also revealed that Opel engineers are working on a new and “stylistic and chic” supermini model that will be made in Figuerelas in 2012, further consolidating the factory’s importance for the group.
Cabo’s comments came as GM recently signed a new collective wage deal with Spanish unions which should provide labour stability for the medium term following heavy demonstrations and strikes that hijacked production in the past few years.
Meanwhile, VW said it will make 348,186 units of the Polo mini this year, the biggest number ever made, up from 337,000 in 2010.
Chechu Rodriguez, secretary general for main Spanish union CCOO labelled the announcement as “very positive” for the factory which may open a new production line this year.
Meanwhile, Spanish manufacturers and dealers’ association Anfac and Ganvam announced Spain saw 928,015 car sales last year, up 3.1% from 2009 but still in line with 1996 levels and a far cry from pre-recession levels.
Passenger vehicle sales fell 11.3% but were offset by rising corporate sales which soared 23% and rental sales which rose 68%.
The sales increase was achieved by a highly successful Plan 2000E subsidies plan which beat market expectations and helped catapult sales 30% in the first half though these quickly eroded after the plan was removed in July.
Importers lobby Aniacam announced 2011 will be a “transition” year for Spain and forecast sales will fall 7% on the back of a prolonged recession which will continue to dampen registrations in the first half.
