Car production in the EU rebounded in the first three months of 2010 compared to the very low levels of 2009. The trend, however, slowed as the year progressed and the impact of temporary factors faded, according to a report released on July 15 by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA).
New passenger car production in the EU recorded a rebound of 34 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2010. However, production was still 13 percent down when compared to the first quarter of 2008. The same picture emerged in the segment of vans. Despite a 51 percent year-on-year increase in the first three months of 2010, production of vans remained 35 percent below the pre-crisis level of the corresponding period of 2008. Truck production decreased by five percent year on year in the first quarter of this year and was down 63 percent compared to the first quarter of 2008. The segment of buses declined by 22 percent in Q1 2010 compared to the same period in 2009.
In the given period, in units produced, Germany remained the largest auto manufacturing country in the EU (1.4 million units, +33 percent), while the UK saw its car production pick up most (+72.7 percent) compared to the first quarter of the previous year. Except for Finland (-59.5 percent), Belgium (-10.5 percent), the Netherlands (-7.5 percent) and Italy (-0.1 percent), all countries posted growth.