The high fuel price does not stop the Portuguese from buying a new car. In August, 11,349 passenger cars were registered in Portugal, 42.4% more than in the same period last year. Only the best-selling brand in Portugal, Peugeot, doubled sales compared to the previous year and in the top 5 best-selling brands, only BMW recorded a decrease (6.3%). Renault, Mercedes and Toyota grew by 71.1%, 41% and 29% respectively.
Although the car market was 2.8% lower than last year in the first eight months of the year, this is mainly due to the trend in sales of trucks, both light and heavy. Since the start of the year, 101,293 new passenger cars have been launched, a number close to 2021 (-0.4%), while the light goods market is down 19.7% in the year (20 .2% in August alone) and 7.7% in heavy goods (-2% in August).
On the other hand, sales of heavy passenger cars have more than tripled (+258.5 %) since the beginning of the year, with a total of 1,244 new vehicles sold. 220 were sold in August alone, compared to 16 in August last year. It is a growth of 1275% and that translates in all respects into the major recovery of the national tourist market.
However, the Portuguese Automobile Association (ACAP) does not forget that car sales are still well below par compared to the pre-pandemic period. The 13,214 units sold in August, across all market segments, still represent a 17.6% decline compared to August 2019. In the sum of the eight months, the market is still 36.3% below the pre-pandemic period.
Again, the “blame” lies in the decline in truck sales: in light vehicles, the decline is 56% on a monthly basis and 40.8% in the cumulative period from January to August. In terms of heavy vehicles, and due to the extraordinary growth of sales in the passenger segment, the category, which includes goods and passengers, is 35.2% higher in August and 4% higher in the year compared to 2019.
Good news also in the field of sustainability. Of the 11,349 passenger cars sold in Portugal this year, 38.4% run on alternative energy, namely electric and hybrid. Electric cars alone accounted for 9.9% of total sales.
In terms of brands, Peugeot has grown 2.3% so far, while Renault and Mercedes-Benz fell 32.3% and 12.1% respectively. This is followed by Toyota, which grew 20.8% and BMW, which lost 20.6%.
In luxury cars, Porsche and Jaguar lose 1.9% and 1.8% respectively, while Lexus loses 15.7% and Lamborghini 16.7%.
On the other hand, Maserati grew 182.4% and Bentley grew 147.1%, both from 17 vehicles sold in 2021 to 48 and 42 each. Aston Martin, the 007’s favorite brand, is growing by 9.5% (23 cars) and Ferrari by 23.5% (21 new cars on Portuguese roads).
Tesla is growing at 64.1%, equivalent to 1,165 vehicles sold in Portugal this year, up from 710 in the first eight months of 2021.
Source: DN
