The European car market recorded the highest monthly decline of the last decade in September 2018, as 1.12 million vehicles were registered – 343,000 less than in September 2017, JATO reported.
The drop follows August’s inflated results, which were boosted by an increase in business registrations and stock clearances ahead of the introduction of WLTP on the 1 September. Despite August’s increase and September’s decline, volume was only down 3% between the two months, meaning the year to date figures haven’t been strongly impacted and stand at +2.3%, with 278,000 more registrations than this time last year. September’s decline was felt across Europe, as 23 of the 27 markets analysed by JATO’s data reported double-digit drops, while only Croatia saw an increase. The main reason for this relates back to the lack of availability of many models, which were not homologated during the month under new WLTP testing procedures. JATO’s analysis of 22 markets (98% of the volume of Europe-27) found a correlation between the availability of WLTP-homologated derivatives and the variation in registration figures during September. | UK production falls | |
British car production fell almost 17% in September, said the SMMT, to 127,051 models. The UK market output was down 19% and exports by 16.2% and the car makers’ body said the industry urgently needs stability and a favourable Brexit deal. UK CV manufacturing jumped almost 15% last month, said the SMMT. The boost came from models bought by UK fleets which rose 62% while exports slipped 13.5%. Britain’s engine plants made 9.5% fewer units in September but export orders rose 8.9%. Total engine production was 224,975 but the 86,085 was a 28.8% drop for UK cars and commercial vehicles. |
The decline was most strongly evident with diesel cars, which recorded one of its lowest market shares ever with just 32.9% and a volume decline of 40%.
In contrast, electric, hybrid and plug-in vehicles posted their highest market share to date at 7.9%, as demand for them bucked the general market trend and increased by 12.7% to 85,300 units.