Germany In June 2013: Down 4.7 Percent While Discounts Peak

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

In Germany, Europe’s largest car market, sales were down 4.7 percent in June. In the first six months of the year, sales in Germany were down 8.1 percent. Opel’s June sales were down 10.1 percent in Germany, Chevrolet’s sales plummeted 17.1 percent, but those of Ford rose 8.7 percent. Peugeot sales plummeted 26.5 percent.


Things are so bad in Europe that it is seen as a good omen when June sales are down a little less than in the previous months. Because the fall is not as steep as before, Reuters sees “signs of bottoming out.”

In Italy, June sales fell 5.5 percent on the year.

In Spain, June sales fell 0.7 percent.

In France, car registrations dropped 9 percent.

Quite possibly, the alleged bottoming out has another reason: Automakers all over Europe increased their rebates. The average discount stood at 12.6 percent in Germany in June, writes Auitomobilwoche. 26.5 percent of all sales in Germany were registered by automakers and car dealers, often just for a day.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Gentle Ted Gentle Ted on Jul 02, 2013

    Its the same in the UK, like what the person named kitzler stated, many employees get the Perks with the Job,

  • Michal1980 Michal1980 on Jul 02, 2013

    Why are dealers doing the following? "26.5 percent of all sales in Germany were registered by automakers and car dealers, often just for a day"

    • Th009 Th009 on Jul 02, 2013

      Incentives from the manufacturers. See the recent TTAC article about this practice in France ...

  • Dartdude The bottom line is that in the new America coming the elites don't want you and me to own cars. They are going to make building cars so expensive that the will only be for the very rich and connected. You will eat bugs and ride the bus and live in a 500sq-ft. apartment and like it. HUD wants to quit giving federal for any development for single family homes and don't be surprised that FHA aren't going to give loans for single family homes in the very near future.
  • FreedMike This is before Cadillac styling went full scale nutty...and not particularly attractive, in my opinion.
  • JTiberius1701 Middle of April here in NE Ohio. And that can still be shaky. Also on my Fiesta ST, I use Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires for the winter and Bridgestone Potenza for my summer tires. No issues at all.
  • TCowner We've had a 64.5 Mustang in the family for the past 40 years. It is all original, Rangoon Red coupe with 289 (one of the first instead of the 260), Rally Pac, 4-speed, factory air, every option. Always gets smiles and thumbs ups.
  • ToolGuy This might be a good option for my spouse when it becomes available -- thought about reserving one but the $500 deposit is a little too serious. Oh sorry, that was the Volvo EX30, not the Mustang. Is Volvo part of Ford? Is the Mustang an EV? I'm so confused.
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