World Vehicle Sales Up 1.6% in April

Global vehicle sales totaled 7.2 million in April, up just 1.6% over year-ago. This was the lowest year-over-year increase since June 2013’s 0.9% gain.

North American deliveries jumped 6.7% in the month to 1.6 million units, bolstered by gains in both the U.S. and Canada.

Sales in the U.S. surged 8.0% in April, the largest increase since November, with 1.4 million units sold. Rising demand, well-stocked dealers and some stepped-up incentive activity contributed to the growth. Deliveries in Canada rose as well in the month, up 4.0%, as light truck sales climbed to a new record.

Mexico sales plummeted 8.2% in April following an economic slowdown in the country due to increased taxes, fewer exports and rising unemployment.

North America placed second behind the Asia-Pacific region (43.7%) last month with a 23.1% share of global sales.

Asia-Pacific continued to surpass year-ago results in April, posting sales of 3.1 million units, or 3.2% more than like-2013. This was the 14th consecutive month of year-over-year increases for the region.

China, the region’s largest market, saw sales exceed 2 million units for the second straight month, up 8.8% from like-2013. South Korea was the only other major Asia-Pacific market to post an increase, climbing 11.8% to 147,765 units.

Japan and India both slumped in April, with sales down 5.5% and 12.6%, respectively, while Australia posted a 5.2% drop.

Europe sales remained relatively flat in April, inching up 0.5% over year-ago to 1.6 million units, or 22.7% of the worldwide market.

Deliveries in Germany fell for the first time since November, down 3.5%, as the region’s economic recovery slowed. Russia (-8.7%), Belgium (-0.6%) and Austria (-4.2%) also saw sales decline in April.

However, growth in France (+4.9%), Italy (+2.9%) and the U.K. (+6.7%) was just enough to push the region into positive territory.

South America was the only region to post a drop in sales in April, plunging 19.6% to 430,000 units. This marked the second straight month of declines for the region, but was the highest monthly volume posted since January.

Nearly every South American market recorded a drop in sales. Deliveries in Brazil fell 12.1%, marking the second consecutive year-over-year decline for the country. Argentina and Chile sales fell as well, down 40% and 17.3%, respectively.

Through April, 29.3 million vehicles have been sold worldwide, up 3.8% over like-2013.

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