Discounts Boost Sales 8% in Spain

Deliveries of new passenger vehicles in Spain climbed 8% to 1.23 million units in 2017, including a 6% gain to 102,900 units in December, according to ANFAC.

The group says results were aided by year-end discounts. And dealer group Faconauto cautions that more than 10% of last year’s total came from vehicles registered by carmakers and their dealers but not delivered to retail customers.

Fleet sales accounted for most of the real growth in 2016. Sales to rental car fleets rose 9% for the year, and volume to businesses jumped 13%. ANFAC says deliveries to private customers advanced only 4%.

Spain’s best-selling brands last year were Renault (+12% to 101,500 units), SEAT (+22% to 94,500), Volkswagen (+1% to 89,600), Peugeot (+5% to 87,700) and Opel (-3% to 86,900).

ANFAC says sales of diesel-powered cars slumped nearly 9 points to 48% of the market last year.