Disappointing news for Peugeot as the latest data for European wide car sales indicate that PSA Peugeot has led the pack in declining sales for November 2011. Data shows that Peugeot were followed by Fiat and Opel/Vauxhall in the declining sales table as Europe’s economy slipped closer towards a recession. Registrations in November in the European Union and EFTA countries dropped 3 percent to 1.07 million vehicles from 1.10 million units a year earlier, industry association ACEA said. Eleven-month sales declined 1.1 percent to 12.6 million registrations. Four of the region’s five biggest markets contracted, with France and Italy leading declines at 7.7 percent and 9.2 percent respectively.
European sales at PSA Peugeot, the region’s second-biggest carmaker after Volkswagen, dropped a huge 13 percent, while registrations at Fiat group, including Lancia and Alfa Romeo, declined 12 percent. Opel/Vauxhall saw its sales fall 10.7 percent.
Meanwhile the Volkswagen Group, the region’s biggest carmaker, bucked the trend with increased group sales of 5.8 percent with the Volkswagen and Audi brands posting gains of 13 percent and 9.4 percent respectively while Seat sales fell 15.6 percent and Skoda was down 6.6 percent. Toyota had a 4 percent gain helped by an increase in Lexus sales. South Korean manufacturer Hyundai grew by 4.2 percent.
