Euro vehicle production rises
European vehicle production increased by a total of 15% in the first nine months of 2010.
The latest figures from the European Automobile Manufacturer's Association (ACEA), showed that vehicle manufacture increased by 15% over the same period in 2009, on a total of 12.6 million motor vehicles. Passenger car production rose by 13%.
A slowing of the global economy affected passenger car manufacture in the third quarter, however, with a reduction of 5% on previous levels.
In the van sector, there was growth across all three quarters of the year but trucks were slower to recover, with a delay in production growth until the second quarter. However once the truck sector overcame its initial hesitancy, production leapt by 57% in Q2 and by a similar amount in Q3, although volume was still well below (-53%) pre-recession levels of 2008.
Germany remained the largest centre of European car manufacture (36.4%), followed by Spain/France and the UK.
