Posted on 01/16/2006 7:15:02 PM PST by Panerai
New car sales in Europe fell last year, despite a price war and a strong showing from Japanese car makers.
According to the European Car Industry Association (ACEA), the number of new cars sold fell 0.7% to 15,222,939.
Sales held steady in Western Europe with a decline of just 0.2%, but an influx of used cars in Eastern Europe meant sales there slumped by 10%.
Germany, Europe's largest market, grew by 1.6% with 3.3 million registrations. British sales fell 5% to 2.4 million.
Japanese car makers continued to eat away at the market share of European rivals. Sales increased by 12% at Suzuki, by 10% at Honda, 7% at Mitsubishi and 5% at Toyota.
The result was a decline at several European carmakers, including:
* PSA Group, which owns the Peugeot and Citroen brands
* Ford, home of Volvo, Land Rover and Jaguar
* General Motors, owner of Opel, Vauxhall, Chevrolet and Saab
* Fiat, whose marques include Lancia, Alfa Romeo and Ferrari
* DaimlerChrysler, owner of Smart, Chrysler and Mercedes
* Renault.
Sustained assault
Volkswagen, Europe's biggest carmaker and producer of Audi, Seat, Skoda, Bentley and Lamborghini brands, held on to its position at the top of the region's sales league.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
I'd say that car sales slid because premiums for "disaffected youth" insurance are through the roof right now...
Gas at around $6.00 a gallon could have something to do with it. I'll bet bike and scooter sales are up.
Now I know who is torching the cars..the car salesmen...
Renault include : Dacia, Nissan, and Samsung Motors
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