Car market: all-wheel drive still on trend in 2018
AUTOMARKT SWITZERLAND Exactly 314,028 new passenger cars rolled onto the roads of Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein in 2017. This means that the car market in the two countries was able to maintain its high level from the previous year, closing with a minus of one percent. The continuing all-wheel drive boom is also reflected in the overall annual figure. A 4×4 market share of 47.5% here once again represents a [...]
The continuing all-wheel drive boom is also reflected in the full-year figure. A 4×4 market share of 47.5% represents another record here, the eighth record in a row. Jeep, for example, reports rising sales. If growth in the comfort and safety feature all-wheel drive continues at a similar rate as in previous years, the 50% mark could be surpassed as early as 2018. Just two years ago, the 4×4 share was only 40.4%, in 2016 it was 44.2%.
Alternative drives gain market share
Looking at the engine types, it quickly becomes clear that the gasoline engine is still the favorite drive of Mr. and Mrs. Swiss. 58.4% of all new vehicles were equipped with a gasoline engine in 2017. Despite ongoing criticism of diesel, the self-igniter was able to defend a respectable market share at 36% (-3.2 percentage points), and its consumption benefits continue to be very well received by customers. The growth in alternative drive systems is encouraging. Their share exceeded the 5% mark for the first time in a year, with electric cars (+44.9%) and gasoline hybrid engines (+16.9%) recording significant increases.
Seven successful vintages for the industry
Media spokesman Christoph Wolnik: "Between 2002 and 2010, the total number of new cars remained below 300,000. This makes these seven successful years in a row, which are now behind us, all the more significant. For 2018, our members expect demand to remain constant and thus high."
