A Toyota brand dealership (illustrative image).
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SICCOLI PATRICK / SIPA
Car sales fell to less than ten million vehicles in 2020, unprecedented since the indicator was created.
An “unprecedented” fall, a new consequence of the Covid-19 epidemic.
“The passenger car market collapsed by 23.7%, to 9,942,509 vehicles, under the effect of the pandemic”, or three million less than in 2019, indicated the association of European manufacturers ( ACEA) in a press release.
This is the lowest figure observed since the start of the statistical series in 1990, lower than 2013 and 1993, already dark years for the automotive industry.
Ascent in December
“The measures taken against the pandemic - including strict lockdowns and other restrictions throughout the year - have had an unprecedented impact on car sales in the Union,” continues ACEA.
After a catastrophic spring and several bumpy months, December was however one of the best of the year, with a drop of only 3.3%, to 1,031,070 units.
Many countries remained down in December, such as Italy, France and Belgium, but Spain returned to its December 2019 level, and Germany, Austria or the Netherlands did better than 'in 2019.
Spain particularly affected
Over the year, "the 27 markets of the European Union recorded double-digit declines", underlines ACEA.
But all countries are not equal: among the largest markets, Spain recorded the heaviest fall, with -32.3%, followed by Italy (-27.9%), France (-25, 5%), Poland (-22.9%) and Belgium (-21.5%).
Germany, Europe's largest market (-19.1%), and the Netherlands (-19.5%) fared a little less badly.
In the UK, now separated from the mainland by Brexit, sales plunged 29.4%, according to ACEA.
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