Car sales plummet

NEW car sales fell 13.4 per cent in 2012 with 699,589 vehicles sold throughout Spain.

These are the worst figures registered since 1989, despite the boost of the Plan PIVE towards the end of the year.

Sales in December were 23 per cent lower than in the same month in 2011, according to car manufacturers’ and sellers’ associations (Anfac, Faconauto and Ganvam).

The Plan PIVE grants to help people buy more energy efficient vehicles began in October and 65,000 vehicles were sold until the end of the year.

Private sales fell 12.9 per cent to 337,948 for the whole of the year, while sales to companies fell 19.4 per cent to 224,980, and sales to car rental businesses fell by 3.2 per cent to 136,661.

The manufacturer which sold most cars in Spain in 2012 was Volkswagen, with 62,490; however, the favourite model of 2012 was the Renault Megane, with 30,146 sold.