World Vehicle Sales Grow 8.7% in November

Global vehicle sales totaled 8.36 million in November, soaring 8.7% above year-ago. Year-over-year growth was seen in many countries for the first time in months.

Sales increased in almost every European market, bringing the region’s total to 1.68 million vehicles, a 7.5% gain over year-ago. France and Italy sales jumped 9.8% and 14.2%, respectively, and Germany’s total ticked up 1.6%.

Big increases also were seen in Eastern Europe. Turkey sales climbed 28.8%, and in Ukraine sales grew 54.7% to nearly 9,000 vehicles.

Auto dealers in Russia saw year-over-year gains for the first time since February 2013. The country’s total of 144,000 topped like-2015’s total by 2.5%.

Year-to-date sales in Europe were 5.5% ahead of same-period 2015 with 18.55 million deliveries.

Sales were positive in the Asia-Pacific region, too, leaping 11.9% over year-ago with 4.56 million vehicles. Big improvements were seen in Indonesia (+15.2%) and Philippines (+13.1%), while sales were slow in Malaysia (-12.5%) and Thailand (-15.3%).

Extending a 9-month stretch of gains, sales in China rose 16.8% to 2.93 million units.

Japan sales expanded 7.4% with 418,000 units, the country’s first positive result since April. Through November, sales lagged 2.2% behind same-period 2015 with 4.57 million vehicles.

The Asia-Pacific region’s 11-month total was up 9.5% over same-period 2015 with 42.14 million units.

November sales were up in all three countries in North America, boosting the region’s tally 5.3% over year-ago to 1.72 million vehicles. Sales increased 3.2% in the U.S. and 10.0% in Canada. Mexico sales soared 22.8% to 159,000 units for the month, and were up 18.4% year-to-date.

North America sales totaled 19.45 million through November, outpacing same-period 2015 by 1.3%.

Sales in South America slipped 1.5% to 332,000 units for the month, the smallest loss since February 2014. Argentina sales improved 14.2% and demand in Chile jumped 17.5%. Uruguay sales were positive for the first time since July 2014, up 27.6% to 5,000 units. Sales in Brazil, however, fell 8.7% to 178,000 vehicles.

Year-to-date sales in South America were 13.4% behind same-period 2015 with 3.46 million units.

Worldwide vehicle sales through November grew 5.4% to 84.51 million.

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