World vehicle sales up 4.6% in September 2017
October 31, 2017
World Vehicle Sales by region, September 2017 (Image WardsAuto)
WardsAuto has reported that automakers delivered 8.71 million vehicles worldwide in September 2017, a 4.6% increase from the same month in 2016.
Sales were said to be strong in North America, up 5.0% to 1.86 million, thanks to a 6.2% boost from the US to 1.55 million. Demand in Canada grew 7.7% to 191,000 units, a record September total, and was up 5.4% year-to-date. Mexico sales slid 11.5% below last year’s September record to 120,000 units. Major earthquakes in the capital were said to be partly to blame for the decrease.
North America ended the third quarter 1.1% behind same-period 2016 with 15.86 million vehicles, stated WardsAuto.
Europe sales were reported flat with 1.94 million in September. Most countries saw improvement, including Italy (+7.2%), Russia (+14.9%) and Spain (+5.2), but sales in the top two countries were down. Weak consumer confidence in the UK pulled sales down 8.5% to 490,000 vehicles and deliveries in Germany dipped 2.6% to 318,000 units in September.
With 15.72 million vehicles sold through September, Europe outpaced 2016 figures by 3.8%. Though gradually improving, sales have yet to exceed pre-recession 2007 and 2008 levels of over 16 million.
In the Asia-Pacific region, sales improved 5.7% to 4.18 million for the month. China again was reported to be the driver of growth, jumping 5.7% to 2.71 million deliveries. Adding more than 900,000 vehicles to last year’s nine-month total, sales reached 20.22 million.
Despite rising tensions with the North, South Korea sales soared 19.5% to 154,000 units and improved 1.4% year-to-date. WardsAuto added that Japan (+3.9%), India (+13.8%) and Thailand (+21.9%) also saw big gains.
Finishing the third quarter, Asia-Pacific sales totalled 32.49 million, a 4.6% increase year-over-year and double the nine-month tally 10 years ago.
Large gains also were seen in South America, rising 17.5% to 356,000 units for the month. Sales in Brazil rose 24.5% to 199,000 units and improved 7.3% year-to-date. Argentina deliveries were 14.3% higher than last September and soared 28.5% beyond nine-month 2016.
The South America tally through the third quarter was reported to be 12.3% higher than 2016, with 2.94 million sales.
