World Vehicle Sales Up 9.5% in September

Rounding out the third quarter on a high note, global vehicle sales increased 9.5% from like-2015 with 8.42 million units in September.

Sales were up in almost every European market, raising the region’s total 5.7% over last year to 1.96 million units. Automakers in France and Germany witnessed 1.7% and 9.6% growth, respectively. Deliveries in Italy soared 19.8%, while sales tumbled 9.7% in Greece.

Russia sales fell 9.6% to 135,000 units, the smallest decrease there in over two years.

September starts off the second registration period in the U.K. and therefore generally is the second-biggest sales month. Sales totaled 536,000 units, up 1.4% over year-ago and four times higher than August’s tally.

Year-to-date, Europe sales totaled 15.29 million units, a 5.8% increase over same-period 2015.

Sales boomed in the Asia-Pacific region, driven by exploding growth in China. The region’s September tally of 4.28 million units was 18.0% above year-ago.

In China, sales soared 28.9% to 2.61 million units. General Motors and Nissan reported 16% and 26.3% increases, respectively, while PSA posted a loss for the month. Through Q3, overall sales in China outpaced same-period-2015 by 13.6% with 19.37 million units. Forecasts predict the growth will continue as consumers take advantage of the tax breaks on small-engine vehicles set to expire at the end of the year.

September sales in India grew to 344,000 units, up 15.3% from 298,000 in 2015. Sales slipped 0.5% in Japan and tumbled 14.3% in South Korea.

The Asia-Pacific region’s 9-month total of 33.32 million vehicles was 8.9% ahead of same-period 2015.

Rapid growth in Mexico was just enough to bring North America’s September tally into the black, inching 0.3% above year-ago with 1.77 million deliveries.

Increased demand for both cars and light trucks in Mexico drove the total over 135,000 sales, an 18.2% increase year-over-year.

In both the U.S. and Canada sales dipped about 1% below year-ago for the month. Still, year-to-date sales in both countries outpaced same-period 2015 by 0.2% and 2.9%, respectively.  

Shrinking sales continued in South America, where electricity-, food- and medical-supply shortages and political unrest left few consumers ready to buy a new car. Sales were particularly slow in Venezuela, where only 271 new vehicles found a buyer, versus 621 the year before.

Demand fell 20.1% in Brazil to 160,000 units in the first month of Michael Tremer’s presidency after the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff.

Neighbors Argentina and Chile were the sole bright spots in the region, with growth of 5.9% and 11.3%, respectively.

Year-to-date sales in South America totaled 2.82 million units, a 15.0% decrease from like- 2015.

Globally, PSA and Volkswagen Group both reported a 2.9% increase in year-to-date sales. Volkswagen’s numbers were bolstered by strong deliveries among its luxury brands while VW sales have struggled with the Dieselgate emissions scandal.

General Motors brands also are having a strong year. Buick sales breached the 1 million mark faster than any time in the brand’s 113-year history. Cadillac reported 6.7% growth through Q3, boosted by increased demand in the EU, Russia and China and despite slower sales in North America.

FCA reported a 2% drop in sales through September, though profits were up. Ford’s numbers also were down, citing slower sales in the Americas.

Overall, automakers delivered 68.22 million new vehicles worldwide in the first nine months of 2016, a 5.1% improvement over year-ago.

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