Spanish new-car registrations grew by 128 % in March in contrast with the identical month final yr, when sellers had been partly closed underneath coronavirus lockdowns, however gross sales had been nonetheless down sharply from 2019.
There have been 85,819 gross sales in March, in accordance with the ANFAC trade group, in contrast with 37,643 in March 2020. Nevertheless, that whole is 30 % beneath March 2019.
Manufacturers with a very sturdy month included VW Group’s Skoda, up 357 %; and three Stellantis manufacturers: Peugeot was up 321 %, Citroen gross sales rose 260 % and Opel was up 252 %.
For the primary three months of the yr, there have been 186,061 gross sales, a 15 % decline over 2020, ANFAC mentioned.
The commerce group mentioned in a launch that the power of any restoration this yr will depend on a revival of tourism and renewed client confidence — with each tied to how rapidly the COVID-19 vaccination marketing campaign progresses. ANFAC reduce its forecast of 2021 gross sales to 925,000 models, a determine 26 % decrease than 2019.
Demand additionally continued to be hit by the tip of Spain’s scrapping program, Plan Renove, which expired in December. On the identical time, a registration tax utilized for automobiles with CO2 emissions of greater than 120 grams per km elevated for a lot of fashions on Jan. 1, as emissions values for every automobile had been transformed from the NEDC take a look at cycle to the extra stringent WLTP process, which yields larger CO2 figures.
Gross sales to personal clients in March rose 101 %; firm registrations (together with self-registrations by automakers and sellers) jumped by 153 %; and gross sales to rental firms had been up 145 %, ANFAC mentioned.
Most manufacturers posted triple-digit will increase from March 2020.
Amongst quantity automakers, solely VW Group’s Spanish model, Seat, had a muted efficiency, with 1.9 % progress. Gross sales of the compact Leon and small Ibiza each declined from 2020; the Leon suffered from manufacturing cuts introduced in December on account of a scarcity of microchips.
Peugeot was the best-selling model in March; the 208 small hatchback was the most well-liked mannequin general, with a 619 % improve in gross sales to 2,898. Stellantis had six of its nameplates among the many prime 10; the Fiat 500 jumped to fourth place with 2,221 models bought, with its gentle hybrid model the most well-liked amongst non-rechargeable hybrids.
Fiat model registrations posted 202 % progress, with Alfa Romeo rising by 49 %. Jeep gross sales rose 229 %.
Inside VW Group, Skoda’s progress was pushed by a 644 % improve in gross sales of the Kamiq small SUV. VW model gross sales elevated by 89 %; Audi gross sales grew 207 % and Porsche posted 88 % progress.
Renault model gross sales had been up 67 % for the month, whereas Dacia gross sales grew by 126 %. Ford was up 223 %.
BMW posted a 182 % progress, whereas Mercedes-Benz elevated gross sales by 101 %.
Amongst Asian manufacturers, Toyota elevated gross sales by 78 % and Nissan was up 102 %. Hyundai gross sales rose 119 %, whereas sibling model Kia posted a 90 % progress.
Gross sales of full-electric automobiles rose 174 % in March for a 2.4 % share, in contrast with a 2 % share in 2020, whereas plug-in hybrid automobiles grew by 465 % with a 4.1 % share, up from 1.7 % final yr. Gross sales of full-hybrid automobiles rose 226 % for a 22 % market share, versus a 15 % share in March 2020.
Gross sales of gasoline-powered vehicles had been up 101 % for a 48.7 % market share, down 6.5 share factors from March 2020. Diesel vehicles had a 21.7 % share, 3.1 share factors decrease than March 2020.
LPG-powered automobiles posted 404 % progress, for a 1 % market share.