World market improving

The world car industry is optimistic. After a fall in sales in 2009 (63 million vehicles sold as opposed to 68 million in 2008), the industry began to assume a healthier complexion in 2010 (71 million cars sold). The first six months of 2011 confirmed this trend with a + 5.4% rise in sales in the first half of the year - in other words 37.3 million vehicles sold. All this, despite the crisis and with a nuclear disaster in Japan (a whole month of production in the car industry lost). According to forecasts by French manufacturer, Renault, the total market is expected to rise to 83 million units in 2013. In 2018, the 100 million-car threshold is even expected to be superseded.

The crisis in Japan is gradually being brought down. Although sales fell by 23% in Japan in June, they have clearly improved in comparison to figures for April and May. Growth is beginning once again in Europe following the withdrawal of public subsidies which supported the market during the crisis. France and Germany are coming out of the crisis in fine fettle, while Spain is finding recovery more difficult and experienced a 31% fall in June. Progress is also being made in the US, with a 7.1% rise in sales in June. Sales in May were rather disappointing due to interrupted supply from Japan. In the six-month period, there was a rise of 12.8%. The Brazilian market is growing well. According to Reuters, the market is expected to increase by more than the 4% forecast by the Brazilian automobile federation. Although sales in June fell slightly compared to those in May, they did, nevertheless, rise by 16% compared to the same month last year. The big unanswered question involves China - thebiggest market in the world. After record sales in 2010, sales have slowed since February. The Chinese federation has stated that forecasts made at the beginning of the year (growth in sales of between 10-15%) will probably not be reached. (I.L./transl.fl)