German Auto Sales Drop 9.9% in May

June has only just begun, and we are getting the first news on last month's European auto sales. German new car sales fell 9.9% compared to May 2012 to 261,316 cars, according to Germany's Federal Transport Authority. Sales year-on-year fell 8.8% to 1.2 million cars sold so far this year.

Of the major brands that sell cars in Germany only DaciaDaciaRomania, 1966 > present11 models
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, JaguarJaguarUnited Kingdom, 1922 > present53 models
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, Land RoverLand RoverUnited Kingdom, 1978 > present15 models
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, MazdaMazdaJapan, 1920 > present80 models
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, PorschePorscheGermany, 1931 > present43 models
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and SeatSeatSpain, 1950 > present29 models
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had month-on-month sales increases. sales fell 16.3%; BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
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fell 10.8%; VolkswagenVolkswagenGermany, 1938 > present98 models
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sales fell 10.1%; AudiAudiGermany, 1909 > present83 models
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fell 9.7%; Mercedes-BenzMercedes-BenzGermany, 1924 > present197 models
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fell 7.6% and Ford fell 0.9%.

The top three brands in terms of unit sales in Germany were Volkswagen with 56,589 sales, Mercedes-Benz with 24,445 sales and Audi with 22,987 sales. BMW was the only other brand with over 20,000 sales; it sold 21,266 cars.

Fleet sales were also hit hard with a 14% decline in May, and sales to private customers fell 4%. 

If there is any good news in the FTA report, it is that the share of auto registrations from private customers grew to 41.3%, the highest in over 12 months. 

For the previously reported month, Germany had a sales gain of 3.8% compared to the previous April.

The European Automotive Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) generally releases its report of EU sales in the middle of the month. It is considered the definitive report on monthly European auto sales.

Source: Automotive News Europe