Rest of World Making Up for Dipping European Auto Sales

Most of the world outside of Western Europe is experiencing sales growth, and in some regions that growth in in the double digits. It is enough to make up for the dropping sales in Western Europe for automakers that sell internationally, but it is hurting smaller, regional automakers in Europe. 

Sales in the US in June were up 22% to 1.28 million cars. The total automobile market in the US is up 15% through the first half of the year to 7.2 million cars. Passenger car sales are growing more quickly there than pickup truck sales. German makers are doing especially well; their sales are up 23%. 

Chinese car sales were up 16% in June to 1.1 million vehicles. The market is up 9% so far this year to 6.4 million cars.

India was up 11% in June to 209,000 cars and is up 13% so far this year to 1.5 million cars. 

Japan is in the middle of a recovery. Sales were up 47% in June to 432,600 cars, and sales are up 57% so far this year to 2.5 million cars. 

Russia also continues to grow. In June, it was up 10% to 272,100 cars and sales are 14% to 1.4 million cars so far this year. 

Brazil was up 19% for June to 340,600 cars and is down 0.4% so far this year at 1.6 million cars. 

Western Europe is where the real problems lie for automakers. Sales were down 1.7% in June to 1.2 million cars. So far this year 6.5 million cars have been sold in Western Europe, which is a drop of 6.9%. Certain markets like Switzerland, the Netherlands, UK and Germany remain strong, but Italy, France and Spain are pulling the region down. 

Source: VDA