In a press release commenting on the latest figures for European Union (EU-27) new passenger car registrations, Roberto Vavassori, the president of the Italian automotive industry association (Anfia), has asked the Italian government to intervene immediately to provide support for Italy’s automotive sector.
Mr. Vavassori stated, “In September, all of the major European markets posted year-on-year decreases, except for the United Kingdom. There were particularly strong double-digit falls in Spain (down 36.8 percent) and Italy (down 25.7) as these countries are striving to overcome the crisis in the euro zone. Meanwhile, France (down 17.9 percent) and Germany (down 10.9 percent) are also facing great difficulties.”
The Anfia president continued, “Due to the harsh market environment, many governments have already implemented measures aimed at stimulating the auto market. For example, the French government lowered oil taxation and is developing a system to prevent oil prices from rising in the future.” He went on to state that the French government is also taking steps to boost the competitivity of domestic auto producers, while in Spain the government has launched a plan to stimulate sales of vehicles with high fuel-efficiency and low environmental impact. In conclusion, Mr. Vavassori called on the Italian government also to take action to support Italy’s domestic auto sector.