UK motorcycle sales were down 14 per cent in January, compared with the same month last year. According to the National Motorcycle Dealers Association, poor sales can be attributed to the “arctic weather” that affected much of the country during the middle of month.
Michelin expects its business to gain momentum in China in the coming years, propelled by a fast increase in vehicle sales. This was the word from Philippe Verneuil, president of Michelin China, upon the opening of the company’s $1.5 billion factory in Shenyang. The facility’s opening has been reported by the China Daily, which writes that the Shenyang plant, Michelin’s largest factory in the world, has an annual capacity of more than 12 million car, truck and bus tyres.
December figures for new commercial vehicle registrations show that Europeans just aren’t buying at the moment. According to information supplied by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, registrations of light commercial vehicles within the European Union dropped 24.3 per cent year-on-year during the month to 103,254 units, while registrations of commercial vehicles over 3.5 tonnes decreased 22.8 per cent to 19,309 units and heavy trucks (16 tonnes and over) fared little better, decreasing 21.7 per cent year-on-year during the month to 14,267 units. Only bus and coach (over 3.5 tonnes) registrations provided respite from this downward trend, increasing 11.9 per cent year-on-year to 3,262 units in December.
Further details from ACEA’s 2012 European car registrations data reveals that the Volkswagen Golf continues to be Europe’s best-selling car, despite a sharp drop of 11.1 per cent in 2012 sales compared to 2011. Even with a 12.7 per cent drop the Ford Fiesta overtakes the Volkswagen Polo for second place in 2012, while the Volkswagen Polo comes in third, with sales down 19.8 per cent.
ACEA – the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association – has revealed 2012 new car registrations declined by 8.2 per cent in the EU (excluding Malta), continuing the downward trend commenced fifteen months ago. Worse still was the 16.3 per cent reduction in December registrations versus December 2011 – the steepest decline recorded in December since 2008, though this decline can partially be blamed on having on average two fewer working days in the region than in the same month in 2011. The UK was the only major market to post growth in the month, which was also reflected across the whole year.
The total UK bus and coach market rose 34.2 per cent to 8,102 units in 2012, ending the year on a high. 2012 was a positive year for the overall bus and coach market, with significant growth posted across the sector: Registrations of purpose-built buses and coaches climbed 12.4 per cent in the year, posting 3,811 units. Converted bus registrations rose 62.2 per cent in 2012 to 4,291 units.
Releasing its figures on commercial vehicle registrations for December, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders described 2012 as "a tough year", during which the market dropped by -5.9 per cent to 285,343 units.
UK new car registrations rose 5.3 per cent in 2012 to 2,044,609 units, boosted by strong consumer demand. The latest data released by the SMMT on 7 January shows that annual the volume was highest since 2008 and recorded largest percentage increase since 2001. However, the new car market was still 14.9 per cent below the 2007 pre-recession level of 2.4 million units. According to the data, the market ended 2012 with a 3.7 per cent rise in December to 123,557 units.
Sales of new cars in the UK in 2012 topped more than two million, giving the best sales figures since 2008. Commenting on the SMMT's car registration figures Sue Robinson, director of the RMI National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers across the UK, said: "Retail demand drove the UK car market in 2012 whilst fleet sales were flat."
Commercial vehicle registrations fell by 15.9 per cent in November to 22,860 units; year-to-date figures were down 5 per cent to 265,959. Truck registrations declined by 13.7 per cent to 3,885 units in the month, but the rolling year figure is up 12.6 per cent to 46,734 units.
UK new car registrations rose 11.3 per cent to 149,191 units in November, on the back of increased private demand. The UK new car market has grown 5.4 per cent to 1,921,052 units during the January-November period, putting the full year market on track to be the best since 2008.
With 12 million sector-related jobs the automotive industry is vital for Europe's prosperity and job creation. The automotive industry as a whole (automotive producers, supply chain and aftermarket, including thousands of SMEs) is of strategic importance to the European economy, representing 12 million direct and indirect jobs, 4 per cent of GDP and a €90 billion trade surplus (in 2011). This industry is the biggest private investor in research and innovation, spending around €30 billion annually.
Total bus and coach registrations fell 23.9 per cent to 486 units in October, but climbed 44.9 per cent over the year-to-date. The purpose-built bus and coach market declined 35.3 per cent in the month, but rose 16.1 per cent during January-September. Converted bus registrations dipped 8.5 per cent in October, but rose 84.6 per cent during the first 10 months of 2012.
PricewaterhouseCoopers Automotive partner Phil Harrold has forecast a continuing “renaissance” for the British automotive industry. The analyst suggests the next five years will see the sector improve its workforce’s skills base following recent investments by major brands such as Toyota, and rises in new car registrations. Harrold commented after the firm’s auto analyst arm, Autofacts, predicted global production figures would top 83.19 million in 2013 up from 79.1 million this year.
The SMMT figures for commercial vehicle registrations in October paint a gloomy picture, with year-on-year CV sales down 8.1 per cent to 21,661 units; the rolling year figure is also down 0.9% to 293,312.
Truck registrations dipped to 3,867 units, down 8.1 per cent in the month, but the rolling year figure is up 16.3 per cent to 47,352.
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