Last year, nearly three percent fewer new cars were registered in Germany than in 2011, according to official data released on Thursday.
In 2012, approximately 3.1 million new cars were registered in Germany, compared to 3.17 million registered in 2011, as reported in the annual report by the automotive industry association VDA. A particularly sharp decline was recorded in December when the number of new car registrations decreased by as much as 16 percent, it was emphasized.
VDA President Matthias Wissmann emphasized that the figures are in line with expectations and are a result of ‘uncertainty’ among consumers due to the debt crisis in the eurozone. He also forecasted strong results in the new year, primarily due to foreign sales.
– We are witnessing very dynamic growth in the automotive industry outside of Western Europe, and the German automotive industry has a disproportionately large share in this – stated Wissmann in a statement, particularly highlighting China as a strong growth engine.
– We will do everything we can to maintain and further increase our share in the global market, which currently stands at about one-fifth – he noted.
The VDA expects that around three million new cars will be registered in Germany this year.
