European market experiences further fall in first quarter of 2013. The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) registered a fall of 9.7% in car sales throughout Europe (-11% for the EU). In March, demand for new passenger cars in the European market declined for the 18th consecutive month, with a fall of 10.3% to 1,34 million units sold. After a disastrous 2012, this year does not appear to be any better. While the crisis in the automobile market was characterised initially by a sharp fall in production of well-known family car brands (Renault, Opel, Fiat, etc.) and sales dipping in southern Europe, it is now Germany's turn to show signs of weakness. Results on the German market are particularly disappointing, and even of great concern. Sales in Germany fell by 12%, with 674,000 units sold in the first quarter alone. The German market is saturated but has always managed until now to register an average of 3 million vehicle sales a year. During the first three months of the year, however, only 280,100 new vehicles were sold. Manufacturers producing for the mass market have suffered most: Volkswagen suffered a 23% collapse in sales during March and Opel saw sales fall by 16%. Luxury brand vehicles have managed to keep their heads above water and, although BMW saw sales fall by 12% in March, the company managed to limit the damage over the whole of the first quarter, with sales falling by only -3%. Porsche, however, is continuing to experience robustly healthy sales, which increased by 32% last March. Throughout the European market, some manufacturers, already hit hard in 2012, are continuing to experience difficulties. This is the case with PSA, whose sales volumes plunged by 15.3% during the first quarter, after falling sales of 12.9% in 2012. Ford's sales collapsed by 20.1%, after a 13% fall last year. Other brands that had hitherto not been affected are now feeling the heat. This is the case with Volkswagen (-12.5% during the first quarter), Toyota (-16.3%) and Nissan (-8.2%). Even though the second half of the year should prove better, analysts expect that the collapse experienced on the market will impact heavily on the manufacturers' sales targets. (IL/trans.fl)