Global Light Vehicle Sales Shrank Last Year

Worldwide sales of light vehicles dropped 7% in December, resulting in the market’s first full-year decline since 2009, LMC Automotive reports.

Global volume for the year dipped less than 1% to 94.79 million units from 95.30 million in 2017, as December sales fell to 8.16 million from 8.76 million.

The annual decline was led by 3% shrinkage in China’s sales, which included a 14% drop to 2.64 million units last month. Sales also retreated in Europe, plunging 9% to 1.50 million vehicles in December and 7% to 19.02 million for the year.

LMC says full-year deliveries in the U.S. advanced 1% to 17.29 million vehicles last year.