ACEA

European vehicle production up 15% over 9 months in 2010

Brussels, 23 December 2010 - Total vehicle production in the EU rose by 15% in the first nine months of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. Passenger car production increased by 13%, reflecting a drop of 5% in the third quarter in correlation with the softening momentum in the global economy. Production levels in the segment of vans expanded in all three quarters of 2010. The segment of trucks started to show signs of recovery only in the second quarter, when production increased by 57%, and continued this trend in the third quarter when new truck registrations also began to be positive again.

Vehicle production

Three quarters into 2010, a total of 12.6 million motor vehicles were produced in the EU, which is 15% more than over the same period last year. Compared to the pre-crisis level of the first three quarters of 2008, total production was down 14%. New passenger car production in the EU grew in the first half year before contracting by 5% in the third quarter, in correlation with the drop observed in new registrations. Three quarters into the year, production of cars was up 13% compared to the same period last year, but down 11% compared to the first three quarters of 2008. Production of vans increased throughout the first three quarters of this year. However, compared to the levels of 2008, output levels were still down 29%. Truck production continued to decrease in the first quarter of this year, before rebounding in the second and third but still remaining well below the level before the crisis (-53%).

Germany remained the largest manufacturing country, both for motor vehicles and passenger cars, the production of which expanded by 15% and 14% respectively. While 36.4% of new cars were produced in Germany, Spain, as well as France, accounted for 12.9%, followed by the UK (8.3%), the Czech Republic (7.1%), Poland (5.7%), Italy (3.9%) and Slovakia (3.6%).

Demand

After growth in the first quarter, demand for new passenger cars started to decline in April, dipping at -18.6% in July and remaining negative in November (-7.1%). The contraction of the EU market reflects both the ending of government support schemes as well as the continuing challenging economic situation in the EU. From January to November, small cars* (segments A and B) accounted for 43.8% of the total market for new cars compared to 45.3% in the same period of 2009. 51.5% of all new cars registered had a diesel engine, compared to 45.6% over January – November last year. In March, registrations of new commercial vehicles started to show signs of recovery from the very low levels recorded in 2009. Market growth was at first mainly lifted by demand for vans before results in the truck segment picked up again in June.

 

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