Car Sales Fall 31% in Spain

New-car sales in Spain plummeted 31% to 74,500 units in August, trade group ANFAC reports.

Other national markets in Europe are reporting similar sharp declines for the month. August sales throughout the region compare with year-earlier volumes that were inflated by heavy discounting. At the time, manufacturers were eager to sell off inventories of models that didn’t meet Europe’s tougher WLTP emission standards that went into effect 12 months ago.

ANFAC says August sales shrank 28% to private buyers, 34% to business customers and 36% to rental companies. Demand for hybrid, electric and alternate-fuel vehicles rose a combined 11% to 10,200 units last month, capturing 14% of the Spanish new-car market.

Passenger car deliveries in Spain through the first eight months of 2019 totaled 883,600 units, down 9% from the same period last year.