They demand from the Anfac Manufacturers Association more efficient government industrial policies and urgent action to improve aid plans
The Spanish automotive sector was expected to make a significant recovery after the pandemic and the microchip crisis in the year that is about to end. But the numbers point to the contrary, as the 2023 projections point to a market
above 900,000 units of cars registered in Spain in an unfavorable socio-economic situation.
Vehicle production will close with a slight increase from 2021 to approximately 2.2 million
units produced in Spanish factories. Still a long way from the pre-crisis figures, which assumed production of about 2.8 million vehicles and registrations of about 1.5 million. That is the goal to be achieved, but Anfac’s general manager believes that “it won’t be this year or next year”.
According to
Jose Lopez-Tafall These are worrying data and outlooks that have led the passenger car and SUV market to a third negative year end compared to pre-pandemic numbers, with a 34% drop compared to 2019. Economic uncertainty, characterized by the strong inflation and the increase in energy and raw material costs and the microchip crisis remain the main factors determining the evolution of registrations.
The conditions that have set the pace of the passenger car and SUV market have affected sales of light commercial and industrial vehicles to varying degrees. Light commercials close about 118,000 units sold,
with a remarkable drop of 22%mainly due to the decrease in production and a lower stock for sale.
For their part, industrial vehicles, despite falling short of pre-pandemic volumes, are expected to increase their sales by 11% to 23,100 units. Finally, buses and minibuses, with an increase of 20%, will be able to improve on last year’s figures, with a forecast of 2,360 units.
The improvement of recent months, where growth of 2.8% accumulated until October, and despite the numerous production cuts in the last quarter,
have improved the annual figures. However, the shortage of certain essential parts for vehicle production, such as cables, aluminum, nickel or palladium, sourced from Ukraine and Russia, together with the rise in energy costs, have affected the pace of production in Spanish factories.
For López-Tafall “should reach Spain, with about 1.5 million annual car sales, of which 1.2 million are passenger cars. Maintaining this market and production rate poses a significant risk to our industry as it could lead to job destruction and loss of competitiveness.”
By 2022 will reach the domestic market
a total of about 80,000 pieces of electrified passenger cars (pure electric and plug-in hybrids) 20% more than last year, but a figure that falls short of this year’s milestone of 120,000 units and represents only one in ten sales of the total market, even more the opening the gap with the European environment where the average of electrified vehicles accounts for 20% of total sales. “There is a split in Europe, between some countries that already have more than 20% electrification, and another half that includes Spain, in which it does not even reach 10%,” says the manager.
From Anfac, they emphasize that the need to implement a more efficient industrial policy “and a package of urgent measures in terms of improving aid plans, accelerating the development of charging infrastructures and tax reforms that serve not only to facilitate the entry of the electrified vehicle promote, but also for
stimulate the market. 2023 should be a key year for the promotion of sustainable mobility in Spain and the context of elections should not be an obstacle or a brake,” said the general director of Anfac.
Analyzing the automotive situation at the end of the year, the Manufacturers Association expects the market for passenger cars and SUVs to be in 2023
more than 900,000 units soldmore than 2022 records, but still well below pre-pandemic numbers.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
