Sale of passenger light grows 9.7% in July – publico

                 

                         
                     

                 

 
                         

passenger car sales rose 9.7% in July, compared to the same month last year. Despite positive developments, this was the month with the lowest annual growth since, in June 2013, demand perked up and the sector began to move away from a deep break. Since that time, the monthly growth counterparts had always been more than two digits, and often above the threshold of 30%.

                     

                         Were sold last month 15,548 passenger (in June, they had been sold 21 063), according to data published by the Automobile Association of Portugal (ACAP). This figure brings the total for the first seven months of this year to 116,200 vehicles, which means an increase of 29.2% over the same period last year.

In terms of units sold this year continues to be the best for the sector since 2010, when the first seven months totaled 135,513 passenger. The drop, which threw the sector to the mid-1980s numbers, began in January 2011, with the economy showing signs of problems and months before the international loan application. The return to growth only happen two and a half later. The good performance in 2015 is based on individual consumers and also in the car rental companies, which reinforced the fleet to meet demand raised by tourism.

As for the remaining categories of cars that are sold much less units, had growth rates above the passenger light. The demand for light-duty vehicles has risen 15.7% to 2538 units. Heavy, meanwhile, rose 34.5% to 312 vehicles. In total, the car market recorded 18,398 units sold last month, 10.9% more than in July 2014.

In the passenger, Renault arrives in July to lead the market, with a share of 11.5%, corresponding to 13 406 cars. However, the 25% growth rate is lower than the competition, according to data from ACAP. Volkswagen, which ranks second, has a share of 9.7%, recording a 32% rise compared to 2014. Very next comes the Peugeot, with a share of 9.6% of the market resulting in a growth of 41.2%. In fourth and fifth place with 7% shares, are Mercedes and BMW. Light commercial, is a leading Renault, followed by Peugeot and Citroen.

In the luxury segment, the figures reveal that in July were sold five Maserati, two Ferraris, a Lamborghini, an Aston Martin and Bentley.