More cars sold in 2010

Car and motorcycle sales were nearly 9 percent higher in 2010 than in 2009. With more than 19 percent, importers of new passenger cars realised the largest turnover growth. Sales of new passenger cars increased by almost a quarter last year relative to 2009, but car sales are still below the pre-economic crisis level.

Car and motorcycle sales, 2010

Passenger car sales up

Passenger car dealers were struck hardest by the economic crisis in 2009. After a prolonged period of economic downturn, car sales improved for the first time in the second quarter of 2010. Car sales grew by nearly 12 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010. The change for the better is also reflected in the number of bankruptcies. The amount of car dealers going bankrupt was reduced by half in 2010 compared to 2009.

In the fourth quarter of 2010, nearly 93 thousand new passenger cars were sold, an increase by 30 percent from the same quarter in 2009. Turnover was lower than sales would suggest, because the average list price of new passenger cars was reduced. Other activities in the car industry are trade in damaged cars, wholesale and car repair.

Sales of new passenger cars and turnover car industry

Higher sales commercial vehicles in fourth quarter

Sales of new commercial vehicles also improved in the course of 2010. In the fourth quarter of last year, sales of new commercial vehicles improved by more than 22 percent relative to the same period in the previous year. Van sales surged. Nevertheless, turnover in the entire commercial vehicle industry remained stable in the fourth quarter of 2010. The commercial vehicle industry covers vans, trailers and semi trailers and repair and wholesale.

Sales of new commercial vehicles and turnover car industry

Rian van Gulijk and Doreen Ewalds