Automotive News - January 28, 2008 - (Page 25) JANUARY 28, 2008 • 25 Eastern Europe has robust sales in ’07 James Franey jfraney@craincom.de New-car sales in eastern Europe grew rapidly in 2007, while sales in western Europe were flat. Romania’s sales grew 26.3 percent last year. That made it Europe’s eighth-largest new-car market, up from No. 12 in 2006, according to data from ACEA, the European automakers’ association. Romania passed Sweden, Austria and Greece for the No. 8 spot. ACEA said rising oil prices, taxes, tight credit and shrinking purchasing power hurt sales in western Europe. Sales totaled 14.8 million last year, up 0.2 percent from 2006. Sales in Germany, Europe’s biggest market, slipped 9.2 percent to just over 3.1 million as many customers stopped buying cars because of a steep rise in the value-added tax and uncertainty over new CO2 emission taxes. In western European, markets, sales in Italy grew 7.1 percent, helped by government incentives. In the United Kingdom, sales rose 2.5 percent, mostly driven by private demand, especially for diesel and small cars, ACEA said. In France, sales grew 3.2 percent, but they were down 1.2 percent in Spain. Rising wealth in Poland, the Czech Republic and new European Union member Romania led to a 14.5 percent gain in registrations in eastern Europe, according to ACEA. Seven eastern and central European countries posted double-digit yearly growth percentages. Only Hungary reported lower sales, down 7.8 percent Estimated Europe registrations by country 12 mos. Percent 2007 change Estimated Europe light-vehicle registrations by manufacturer, December & 12 months Dec. 2007 Dec. 2006 12 mos. 2007 12 mos. 2006 Germany Italy United Kingdom France Spain Belgium Netherlands Romania Sweden Austria Poland Switzerland Greece Portugal Ireland Hungary Denmark Czech Republic Norway Finland Slovenia Slovakia Luxembourg Bulgaria Latvia Estonia Lithuania Iceland TOTAL 3,148,163 –9.2 2,490,570 7.1 2,404,007 2.5 2,064,543 3.2 1,614,835 –1.2 524,795 –0.3 504,195 4.2 312,532 26.3 306,799 8.5 296,414 –3.9 293,319 22.9 285,563 6.0 279,794 4.5 201,868 3.7 186,540 4.5 173,025 –7.8 162,552 3.6 132,542 6.9 129,195 18.3 125,608 –13.8 65,511 12.1 59,700 1.0 52,596 3.5 43,521 19.4 32,497 26.8 30,902 21.1 21,115 48.3 16,170 –5.6 15,958,871 1.1 Note: Excludes most commercial vehicles Source: ACEA from 2006. Total new-car sales in the EU and the EFTA region — which includes Switzerland, Norway and Iceland — grew by 1.1 percent to 16.0 million. Throughout all of Europe, Fiat posted the strongest growth among major carmakers at 7.1 percent. Volkswagen group, Europe’s biggest carmaker, reported a sales decline of 1.1 percent, to 3.2 million units.c Volkswagen division Audi Seat Skoda Other VOLKSWAGEN AG Peugeot Citroen PSA GROUP Ford division Volvo Land Rover Jaguar FORD MOTOR CO. Opel/Vauxhall Chevrolet/GM Daewoo Saab GM U.S. GENERAL MOTORS Renault division Dacia RENAULT Fiat division Lancia Alfa Romeo Other FIAT GROUP Toyota Division Lexus TOYOTA MOTOR BMW division Mini BMW GROUP Mercedes-Benz Smart MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP† .. HONDA NISSAN HYUNDAI SUZUKI KIA MAZDA MITSUBISHI CHRYSLER LLC† OTHER TOTAL 115,198 123,489 1,630,638 1,688,808 46,832 45,630 660,151 640,890 28,980 27,424 386,981 389,111 36,132 36,100 468,628 462,616 171 251 4,535 4,023 227,313 232,894 3,150,933 3,185,448 69,979 73,510 1,107,251 1,121,208 60,521 59,348 943,457 916,938 130,500 132,858 2,050,708 2,038,146 89,531 87,872 1,276,651 1,270,227 20,512 20,465 265,159 243,715 6,390 5,459 92,718 85,411 2,237 2,679 33,387 41,267 118,670 116,475 1,667,915 1,640,620 94,495 96,767 1,344,402 1,334,201 15,120 14,445 201,173 180,036 6,759 7,408 83,866 89,677 471 501 5,599 5,558 116,845 119,121 1,635,040 1,609,472 83,881 80,807 1,208,118 1,306,602 15,809 10,822 172,834 138,603 99,690 91,629 1,380,952 1,445,205 65,820 57,945 976,981 899,289 6,758 6,965 122,054 116,440 9,394 10,400 144,227 145,422 421 255 5,830 4,916 82,393 75,565 1,249,092 1,166,067 65,057 62,061 890,126 867,559 2,648 2,001 39,459 39,318 67,705 64,062 929,585 906,877 58,045 61,853 703,201 680,499 10,751 8,796 144,879 114,235 68,796 70,649 848,080 794,734 51,400 50,887 729,950 725,863 9,600 5,164 96,200 102,218 61,000 56,051 826,150 828,081 19,073 20,941 313,898 280,276 20,531 23,758 310,698 329,284 26,571 24,042 308,687 326,218 22,564 17,109 287,793 263,364 20,544 17,958 252,590 240,505 14,840 14,592 240,354 255,646 9,638 8,671 142,504 134,126 9,347 9,323 119,722 110,884 6,821 13,513 244,170 228,006 1,122,841 1,109,211 15,958,871 15,782,959 †DaimlerChrysler sold the Chrysler group on Aug. 3, 2007; Chrysler LLC and Mercedes-Benz Group totals through July 2007 are extracted from DaimlerChrysler. Note: Reflects estimated registration data from 28 European countries; excludes most commercial vehicles Source: ACEA Companies keep high-tech theme for D.C. show Harry Stoffer hstoffer@crain.com WASHINGTON — Even as a new energy law raises fuel economy standards 40 percent, automakers must continue to impress public officials with their work on fuel-saving technologies, says industry leader Dave McCurdy. “I still believe there is a real need for education for policy makers,” said McCurdy, president of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. The alliance represents the Detroit 3, Toyota and six other automakers. McCurdy spoke to Automotive News during the opening of the Washington Auto Show last week. The new law prescribes a 35 mpg standard by 2020. Meanwhile, McCurdy said, government will make more decisions that could help or hurt industry efforts to develop vehicles that burn less fuel and emit less greenhouse gas. Nick Williams, left, and Tom Albert of Washington were two of the consumers chosen to testdrive Chevrolet Equinox SUVs powered by fuel cells. With the men is General Motors Vice President Beth Lowery. www.UnitedCarCare.com 1-800-571-6412 McCurdy on new mpg rules “With this aggressive target, at historic levels, we now have something that the engineers and designers and other professionals can shoot for. If it is constantly moving, it makes it very difficult for any company, regardless of where it is based.” — Dave McCurdy, president, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers appeal of alternative fuels and vehicles. More tests ahead For the past few years, automakers have used the Washington show to display their advanced fuel-saving technologies. One purpose was to prove to government that dramatically tougher regulations weren’t necessary. The strategy didn’t work. Last month, Congress passed and President Bush signed the new law with the far tougher standards. In the end, industry leaders said they supported the bill. Still, McCurdy said, “We always have a concern that those standards will be goalposts with wheels.” A moving target “doesn’t work,” he added. Congress is considering broader legislation that would limit greenhouse gases from all sources. More action is likely on the question of whether states can enforce their own greenhouse gas rules for vehicles. And government decisions will influence the availability and public Fuel cells, plug-ins Automakers were back with technology-heavy displays at this year’s Washington Auto Show. They emphasized their efforts to get advanced technology out of the labs and design studios and onto the streets. For example: General Motors introduced some of the consumers who will test Chevrolet Equinox SUVs powered by fuel cells this year in a program the company calls Project Driveway. Mark LaNeve, GM’s vice president of North American sales, service and marketing, said some celebrities will get to drive the vehicles. He didn’t name any. Ford Motor Co. displayed a plug-in version of the Ford Escape Hybrid. Southern California Edison is testing the plug-in as part of a demonstration fleet. Ford says the vehicle can travel 30 miles on batteries alone and gets the equivalent of 120 mpg. Chrysler LLC also showed off an important new component: co-President Jim Press, recruited last year from Toyota. Press offered an upbeat assessment of the newly private automaker despite a sagging economy. He said any government stimulus program should focus on building consumer confidence because “structurally, the economy is strong.” c gmdealergroupadvertising.com 800-992 2723 Need Salespeople, Tech’s, Managers & Other Employees? The Auto Industry’s #1 Recruiting, Training & Marketing Company Salespeople~BDC~Detailer~Porter~Technician Body Tech~Service Advisor~Service Manager Parts Counter~Parts Manager~Sales Manager Finance Manager~Office Staff~GSM~GM 800-421-4550 www.clickhereforadvice.com Brian C. Hall, President & CEO http://autonewschina.com/conference http://autonewschina.com/conference http://www.UnitedCarCare.com http://www.UnitedCarCare.com http://gmdealergroupadvertising.com http://www.clickhereforadvice.com http://www.clickhereforadvice.com
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