Automobile sales hit the brakes in Europe and the gas in Turkey

While free movement was banned in many countries in Europe, which is one of the centers of the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic after China, the strict measures taken began to be reflected in all areas of life. The situation remains serious in the USA, which later became the center of the epidemic.

Financial risks increased by fluctuations in global markets, negative effects on supply chains and exports, and the effects of anti-epidemic measures on domestic demand put country economies in a difficult situation. Especially automotive is one of the sectors most affected by the epidemic.

The negative effects of the epidemic were clearly reflected in automobile sales last month and in the first quarter of the year. As the Covid-19 epidemic made its impact felt in Turkey after Europe, while there were great losses in sales in Europe, an increase was recorded in Turkey.

The biggest decrease was in Italy

According to the data compiled by the Automotive Distributors Association (ODD) from the European automobile market evaluation report prepared with the data of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), the automobile market according to the total market including the European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries and the UK In the first quarter of this year, it decreased by 26.3 percent compared to the same period of 2019 and reached a total of 3 million 54 thousand 703 units. In the same period of 2019, 4 million 146 thousand 822 units were sold.

According to the total of EU, EFTA countries and the UK, the highest decrease in the first quarter compared to the same period last year was seen in Italy, the European country most affected by the pandemic, with 35.5 percent. After Italy, the largest decrease was recorded in France with 34.1 percent and Austria with 32.4 percent.

While automobile sales in Germany decreased by 20.3 percent in this period, sales in Spain and England, other important countries in Europe, also decreased by 31 percent.

Germany was the country that sold the most cars in Europe in the first quarter

In the first quarter of this year, the country that sold the most cars in Europe was Germany, which has Mercedes, Audi, BMW, Volkswagen and other major brands of these companies. Germany, the locomotive country of Europe, sold 701 thousand 362 units in the January-March period.

Germany was followed by England, which has brands such as Rolls Royce, Bentley, Aston Martin and Land Rover, with total sales of 483 thousand 557 units.

France, which ranks 3rd in automobile sales, sold 364 thousand 679 cars with Renault, Citroen, Peugeot, Dacia and other brands producing in the country.

France was followed by Italy with sales of 347 thousand 193 units and Spain with sales of 218 thousand 705 units.

Turkey’s automobile sales increased by 44.8 percent

The countries that increased their sales in the first quarter compared to the same period of 2019 were Lithuania with 5.2 percent and the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus (GCASC) with 5 percent.

Turkey’s automobile sales increased by 44.8 percent in this period, reaching 99 thousand 630. Thus, while automobile sales contracted in Europe in the first quarter of the year, they increased in Turkey.

Turkey, one of the three countries that increased its sales, was also the country with the highest increase rate compared to the same period of the previous year.

Automobile sales decreased by 51.8 percent in March

Considering only the last month, the automobile market in Europe decreased by 51.8 percent compared to March 2019 and amounted to a total of 853 thousand 77 units. In March last year, 1 million 771 thousand 30 units were sold.

Last month, the biggest decrease compared to the same period in 2019 was recorded in Italy with 85.4 percent, France with 72.2 percent and Spain with 69.3 percent.

The only country that increased its sales in March compared to the same period last year was Iceland, with 0.4 percent.

Automobile sales and exchange rates for the January-March period in the EU and EFTA countries and the UK market are as follows:

Source: https://www.dunya.com/sektorler/otomotiv/otomobil-satislari-avrupada-frene-turkiyede-gaza-basti-haberi-468195