The semiconductor crisis continues to negatively impact the automotive market, with sales of new passenger cars in Europe falling 29% (EU + EFTA + UK) in October 2021 compared to the same period in 2020.
In absolute numbers, 798 693 units were sold, much less than the 1 129 211 units sold in October 2020.
Virtually all markets saw their sales fall in October (Portugal registered a drop of 22.7%), with the exception of Cyprus (+5.2%) and Ireland (+16.7%), but even so, in the accumulated of the year, there is a small increase of 2.7% (9 960 706 units against 9 696 993) compared to a 2020 that had already been very difficult.
With the continuation of the semiconductor crisis, this meager advantage should be canceled by the end of the year, and the European car market is expected to decrease in 2021 compared to 2020.
And the brands?
Predictably, car brands also had a very difficult October, with substantial declines, but not all of them fell. Porsche, Hyundai, Kia, Smart and the little Alpine managed the shine of having a positive October compared to last year.
Perhaps the biggest surprise in this dismal scenario was that Stellantis was the best-selling automobile group in Europe in October, surpassing the usual leader, the Volkswagen Group.
Stellantis sold 165 866 units in October 2021 (-31.6% compared to October 2020), surpassing the Volkswagen Group by just 557 units, which sold a total of 165 309 units (-41.9%).
A victory that can even be known little by little, given the random character of the results, due to the distorting effect of the lack of chips to produce automobiles.
All car groups and manufacturers are prioritizing the production of their most profitable vehicles. What has affected more those models that contribute the most to volume, such as the Golf in the case of Volkswagen. Which can also justify the positive result of Porsche, a brand that is also part of the Volkswagen Group.
Another surprise when looking at the European market in October was to see the Hyundai Motor Group overtake the Renault Group and take over as the third best-selling automobile group in Europe in October. Unlike the Renault Group, which saw its sales drop by 31.5%, the Hyundai Motor Group recorded a rise of 6.7%.