The European car market remains in negative territory with a loss of registrations in February of 5.4% on the same month of 2021, of 3.9% if we consider the first two months of the year. The decline is actually much more substantial than in 2019, equal to 30% fewer registrations, a figure that demonstrates how the contraction in volumes on the market, induced by the pandemic, is worsening. In recent months, starting from the second half of 2021, the shortage of semiconductors has weighed, in the coming weeks the consequences of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine will exacerbate the crisis.
Black Volkswagen and Stellantis shirts
In the current scenario, the first two groups on the European market, Volkswagen and Stellantis, record the worst results with respectively 11.6 and 17.5% fewer registrations than on February 2021 (7.8% for Germans and 15.1% for the Italian-French group in the two months). At Volkswagen, all brands are in negative territory except Porsche, which earns 8.1%, for Stellantis it is only the sales of the DS and Lancia brands that register a positive sign.
On the European market (including the EFTA area and the UK), registrations for Hyundai Group grew by 25%, which in the two months reached 10% market share, Toyota also did well (+ 4.7% in the month, +8, 9% from the beginning of the year), BMW and Mercedes, while Renault Group loses 3.4%. Among the groups with smaller market shares, Mazda and Honda are growing double-digit year-to-date compared to the first two months of 2021.
These results appear in all their gravity if we consider that in the whole of 2021, compared to pre-pandemic levels, points out the Centro Studi Promotor directed by Gian Primo Quagliano, there was a decrease of 25.5%. After the crisis triggered by the pandemic, there was no reversal of the trend, despite the incentive campaign launched in many countries, including Italy, which in any case contributed to slowing down the decline.
Most significant decline in Italy
In February, however, it is Italy that recorded the worst performance among the major European markets with a drop in sales of 22.6% over the same period of 2021. Waiting for the Government to change the new incentive plan that should arrive in the next few days the market will slow down due to the expected effect for the new Eco-bonuses.