July
7, 2004
Venezuela car sales more than
double in June
(Reuters) - "New car sales in Venezuela
more than doubled in June compared with the same
month a year ago, reflecting a strong rebound
in vehicle purchases that mirrored a recovery
in the economy, the Venezuelan Automobile Chamber
said.
A total of 10,775 cars were sold last month compared
to 5,185 units in June 2003, an increase of 108
percent.
Sales for the six months through June rose by
94 percent to 52,741 units from 27,246 for the
same period in 2003.
The June sales figure was the highest monthly
total since November 2001, when more than 12,000
units were sold.
President Hugo Chávez's government points
to the strong recovery in car sales as one of
the signs that Venezuela is pulling out of an
economic slump (…)"
(…) In the first quarter of 2004, the economy
of the world's No. 5 oil exporter grew 29.8 percent,
compared with the same 2003 period, according
to the Central Bank.
This year, local vehicle manufacturers expect
to sell 100,000 units, a 50 percent increase over
last year. In 2001, 124,633 units were sold.
The companies affiliated with the Venezuelan Automobile
Chamber include: DaimlerChrysler, DaimlerChrysler
de Venezuela; Fiat SpA's; Fiat Automobiles; Fiat
affiliate IVECO Venezuela; Ford Motor Co; General
Motors Corp.'s; General Motors de Venezuela; Mitsubishi
Motors Corp.'s; MMC Automotriz and Toyota Motor
Corp.'s and Toyota de Venezuela.
The figures represented total vehicle sales in
Venezuela, and also include car models made by
nonmember automakers, such as Mazda Motor Corp
and Volkswagen AG".
