Car market in Europe still recovering in March. According to Acea data, last month car sales grew by 10,4%, to 1.489.796 units. In the first quarter of 2014, growth was 8,1%, to 3.353.180 units. However, explains Acea, in absolute terms the March figure represents the second lowest for this month since the Acea series began in 2003.
Registrations in Europe by the Fiat group also recovered, recording an increase in March of 4,2% on a monthly basis and 2,8% on a quarter compared to the same period of 2013. The market share of the Lingotto, however, it dropped in March to 5,7% (from 6% in February) and in the quarter to 6,1% (from 6,4% in October-December). Fiat sold a total of 84.377 new cars in March, while sales totaled 203.824 units from January to March.
As for the Italian market as a whole, growth was 5% in March and 5,8% in the first quarter. Even better results were recorded in the other main European markets: in Great Britain +17% on month and +13,7 on quarter, in Spain +10% and +11,8% respectively, in France +8,5% and + 2,9%, in Germany +5,4% +5,6%.
"The trend reversal of the European car market is consolidating, certainly thanks to the contribution of the 5 major markets (Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Great Britain), all in positive territory, even if with different market dynamics" , commented Romano Valente, director general of Unrae, the association of foreign manufacturers in Italy.
“As regards Italy – he added –, the positive results of our market are directly influenced by the seasonal renewal of the rent a car fleet and by some advances on long-term rentals, after the extension of contracts due to the crisis. The consequence was the drop in the private segment to 58% share in March, the lowest in the history of the automobile in Italy, but above all witnessing the fact that sales to families remained stagnant at last year's levels, maintaining sharp the sufferings of the concessionaires”.
