Tuesday, February 17, 2015

The European car market began 2015 on an optimistic note – L’Express

French manufacturers have had mixed fortunes, registrations of Renault leaping 10.1% and PSA Peugeot Citroën contracting by 1.5% in January 2014, said Tuesday the Association of European Automobile Manufacturers (ACEA).

The 6.7% increase, which allows to approach the million passenger cars sold in the EU (999,157 to be exact), comes after a year 2014 was concluded with a growth of 5 7%.

The volumes, however, remain 20% lower than before the 2008 crisis, when about 1.2 million cars were registered.

When starting from a very low month of January, as was the case in 2014, it is easier to make a strong rise, but in January 2015 is not more historically very high months , “said Jean-François Belorgey, EY consulting firm.

The growth is mainly due to Italy, fourth largest automotive market in the EU, which saw its registrations increase by 10.9% to 131,300 units. The fifth, Spain, has meanwhile increased by 27.5% to 68,100 cars.

After having fallen sharply since 2008, “ Latin countries regain confidence, to varying degrees ,” says Mr Belorgey.

The UK, Europe’s second car market, also posted solid growth (+ 6.7% to 164,900 units), while Germany retains top spot in volume, with 211,300 cars sold, but an increase in the average (2.6%).

– Fiat boosted by Jeep –

France, closely followed by Italy, is the third European market with 133,000 cars sold, up 6.2%, figures slightly revised upwards from the preliminary data (5.9%) broadcast in early February by French manufacturers.

Mr Belorgey, “ it is difficult to draw any trends in a single month ‘, especially in January, due to the commercial strategies of each other from around the end of the year particularly in terms of “ sales tactics ” (self-registrations, sales of short-term rental companies) that could skew the statistics.

automobile manufacturers the German Volkswagen Group remains the leader in the EU, arrogating 25.5% of the market with 254,700 cars (+ 6.8%).

PSA, second, saw its share to 10.8%, down 0.9 points. Peugeot has won 4% but Citroën has lost 6.3% and DS, which has just taken its autonomy ceded 18.9%.

However Smile at Renault, which rose from 9.3% to 9.5% market share. The diamond brand saw its registrations increase by 11.3% while Dacia progressed by 7.3%. It is sold in the EU a little less than a Dacia Renault for two.

German GP from US groups, Ford and Opel are struggling to keep pace and Volkswagen volumes: Ford is growing, but less than the market (+ 5.1%) and 68,700 sales represent half those of the VW (128.700). Opel Group (formerly GM Europe) follows closely with 62,900 cars, down 2.8%. The correct form of the brand “ Blitz ” (+ 15.9%) is not enough to offset the scheduled end of Chevrolet on the Old Continent.

With 7.1% growth, the Italian-American group Fiat-Chrysler flows 62,700 cars, thanks to the explosion of the Jeep brand (+ 183.3%).

The German groups called “ premium ” lie in wait: 60,300 registrations for BMW (with Mini), growing by 8.6%, and 56,300 for Daimler (Mercedes and Smart ), an increase of 15%.

Toyota, whose registrations were up 9.6%, continues to lead the Japanese with 49,000 units, but Nissan, Renault partner approaches: 43,000 cars registered a growth of 36.3%.

On the prospects for 2015, “ ACEA is very conservative by providing 2% ” market growth, notes Mr. Belorgey, for whom “ 6 % of last year were truly a divine surprise “given the state of the economy especially in the euro area.

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