The underlying level of West European car sales remained broadly stable last month according to figures issued by J.D. Power-LMC. The figures show that the March selling rate was just under 14.7 mn units/year, in line with the results for the two previous months.
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Because Easter fell in March this year, the raw numbers show a decline of over 6% when compared with March 2001. Most, but not all of this decline is due to the calendar effects.
“The raw numbers look better when seasonal and calendar influences have been removed”, said Charles Young, Managing Director. “But what is worrying is the increasing extent to which the European industry is having to rely on a booming UK consumer to offset the weakness that we are seeing in many other major countries – and especially in Italy. The UK is currently accounting for a much higher proportion of European sales than it has in the past, or than it can be expected to provide in the future”.
Once again, March produced an exceptional result in the UK. Typically, the UK accounts for about 15% or 16% of overall West European car sales. In the first three months of this year, it has generated almost 19%.
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