Automotive Exports March 2021

EU new car sales
down 24% to
record-low in
January
The January new car sales across Europe
plunged by 24% year-on-year to a record
low as the COVID-19 pandemic kept the
market under pressure, an industry survey
showed .
In 2020, marked by strict lockdowns
and economic upheaval, car sales in the
27-member European Union slumped
by some 3.0 million to under 10 million,
according to the European Automobile
Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).
“In January 2021, the EU passenger car
market posted an accelerated decline, as
COVID-related restrictions continued to
weigh heavily on sales across the European
Union,” the ACEA said in a statement.
It said 726,491 vehicles were sold in the
month, down from 956,447 in January
2020.
Spain was the worst hit, with a fall of
51.5%, followed by Germany down 31.1%
and Belgium 27.2%.
France fared comparatively better, with a
drop of 5.8% while Italy was down 14%.
Sweden managed an increase of 22.5%.
Outside the EU, sales in the UK plummeted
39.5%, the worst performance since 1970,
the ACEA noted.
By maker, Volkswagen group sales tumbled
26.8% in January, with Stellantis – formerly
Fiat-Peugeot – down 26.1% as Renault lost
21.6%. German giant Volkswagen, once
the best global auto seller, has already
lost its top place to Japanese Toyota with
the effect of declining sales in 2020. The
pandemic year, meanwhile, saw Turkey
jumping in overall auto sales rank in
Europe as the only country with sales in
positive territory. Turkey saw the sales
jumping 57.5% year-on-year to 610,109
units in 2020, the data by the Automotive
Manufacturers Association (OSD) showed
earlier in January
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