The figure is the lowest since the statistical series began in 1990, below years like 2013 and 1993 that were so far the worst in the auto industry.
According to the ACEA report, the contraction (the sixth consecutive month) was the result of the shortage of semiconductors that “Negatively impacted car production during the year, especially in the second half of 2021”.
The number of patented cars was 3.3 million units below pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
The report, however, clarified that Germany, the main producing country in the region, was the main driver of the collapse with a 10.1% drop in sales in 2021. Meanwhile, Italy registered a 5.5% rise while that Spain and France recorded modest increases of 1% and 0.5% respectively.
Germany, after starting the year with a recovery in the automobile sector, was one of the main affected by the shortage of semiconductor chips and logistical problems during the second half, registering a year-on-year drop of 27% if only the month of December.
The German group Volkswagen, the main producer in the market, registered a 4.8% drop in the number of new patented cars with 2,437,110 units sold.
While Stellantis (Peugeot, Fiat, Citroën) and Renault reported falls of 2.1% and 10.2%, respectively.
The fate of Japanese automakers was different: the number of new Hyundai and Toyota patented cars grew 18.4% and 9.1% respectively.
Despite the problems in the mass consumer automotive market, the luxury car sector fared better.
BMW posted record sales in 2021 with a global rise of 9.1%, the company said (up 1.5% in Europe, according to ACEA).
Similarly, the British Rolls-Royce and the Italian Lamborghini also reported records with sales increases of 49% and 13% respectively, and unprecedented sales are also expected from Ferrari.
Source From: Ambito
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