Germans bought 288,382 new cars in June, that’s pretty much the same (-0.3 percent) as in June 2010. A month does not a year make: In the first half of 2011, 1.62 million cars changed hands in Deutschland, that’s 10.5 percent more than 2010, say data released today by the Kraftfahrtbundesamt.
The price at the pump leaves Germans unfazed: The upper class segment grew 38.1 percent, sales of SUVs increased by 38 percent, MPVs climbed by 38.9 percent. Mini cars retreated by 10.8 percent. Even Germany’s perennially largest segment, the compact class, registered a shrinkage of 2.9 percent.
Good news for Americans: Ford (+17.1 percent) and Opel (+15,9 percent) were the biggest winners amongst the volume brands. Volkswagen rules the roost with 21.8 percent market share, but climbed only 8.3 percent. Hyundai increased its sales by 25.2 percent.
46.1 percent of all cars sold in Germany last month burn diesel. EVs? Hybrids? Don’t ask: 1,275 EVs and 5,869 hybrids were sold, 0.4 percent of the market.
Full data in all their German glory may be downloaded here.
Opel and Ford are improving, but they are still only fourth and sixth places — behind not only VW but also BMW/Mini*, Mercedes and (for Ford) Audi.
* Why doesn’t KBA break out the MINI brand from the BMW brand? Grrr.
OT: Your avatar is an RO80, isn’t it ?
Yes, it is. A classic design by Claus Luthe …