The German automotive sector timidly raised its head in August, after six months of decline, but remains on its worst annual performance for 30 years, hampered by shortages and renewed inflation.
A total of 199,183 new cars were registered in Europe’s leading economy, 3% more than in August 2021 which had seen a plunge of almost a quarter in sales and had one less working day, according to figures released Monday by the Federal Agency for the Automobile (KBA).
Sales for the first eight months of the year are 34% lower than for the same period in 2019, before the pandemic, specifies the federation of the VDA sector.
“The minimal increase in new registrations in August cannot hide the fact that the German passenger car market is heading for its worst result for around 30 years in 2022,” said Reinhard Zirpel, president of the German Federation of Passenger Cars, in a statement. international car manufacturers VDIK.
In question, the lack of intermediate products and the general uncertainty due to the war in Ukraine.
In this context ‘incoming orders also drop significantly’, adds Mr. Zirpel.
Production in August totaled 207,400 units, or 68% more than a year ago in the midst of a shortage of electronic chips which had partly stopped production lines, according to the VDA.
The automotive lobby on Saturday cut its annual sales forecast, expecting an annual fall of 6%, to 2.5 million units, against a rebound of 3% previously.
In August, the prestige car brand Porsche stood out with a take-off of nearly 48% in sales over one year, to nearly 1,900 copies, or 1% market share.
This is a good omen as the decision to introduce the manufacturer of the 911 on the stock market in the fall by its parent company Volkswagen should fall this Monday evening.
On the model side, sales of purely electric cars increased over one year (11%) to represent 16% of the market against 12% for rechargeable hybrids. Gasoline cars are declining but remain the best-selling with nearly 35% of the market compared to 18% for diesel-powered cars.
/ATS