The numbers couldn't be better. Portugal produced 294 366 motor vehicles in 2018 , making last year the best ever in the history of the national automobile industry — the previous record had been the 250 832 units produced in 2002.
The number represents an increase of 67.7% compared to 2017, when 175 544 motor vehicles were produced.
The production of passenger cars (234 151 units) was the one that registered the biggest increase compared to 2017, around 85.2%; followed by light commercial vehicles (54 881 units), 28.2% more than in 2017; clash only in the production of heavy vehicles (5334 units), which decreased by 15.4% than in 2017.
T-Roc Effect
The responsibility for the registered increase is practically all of the Volkswagen T-Roc , the SUV produced in Autoeuropa. Despite Autoeuropa's imposed target of 240,000 units to be produced in 2018, the multiple stoppages it suffered and strikes prevented it from achieving this goal, having produced 220 922 units , between T-Roc, Sharan and Alhambra.Three out of four vehicles produced in Portugal originate from Palmela.
Flail also growing
With a new generation of light and light commercial vehicles starting production in the second half of 2018, the PSA factory in Mangualde also saw its numbers grow by 17.6% compared to 2017, with 53,645 units produced.
The year 2019 promises even better numbers, now that production of the new Citroën Berlingo, Peugeot Partner and Rifter, and Opel Combo and Combo Life is “in full swing”.
Also note the growing production at Toyota Caetano, where the Toyota Land Cruiser 70 is produced for export, which saw its production grow 10.5%, reaching 2114 units.
other numbers
Note that in 2018 more cars were produced in Portugal than those that were sold : 294 366 vehicles produced against 273 213 sold. Another curious fact is that of the 294 366 units produced, only 8693 stayed for Portugal , that is, 97% of the national automobile production (285 673 units) was destined for export.
Germany is the main destination for cars produced here, with 61 124 units, followed by France and Italy, with 44 000 units and 34 741 units, respectively. In addition to European countries — Europe is the leader in exports with a 91% share —, “our” cars also reached destinations as different as China (7,808 units) or the African continent (3923 units).
But if 2018 was good, 2019 promises to be better, with production growth promises until 2020, and it is predicted that it can reach 350,000 units (Mobinov data).
Source: ACAP and Expresso