Market: All-wheel drive vehicles rock sales
September was a record-breaking month for the Swiss automotive industry. With 26,145 new registrations, it represents the second-best September after 2011. Exactly 2,009 more new vehicles took to the roads of Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein than in the equally successful month of the previous year. This means that 232,183 cars were registered for the first time in the first three quarters of the year, here [...]
This means that 232,183 cars were registered for the first time in the first three quarters of the year, leaving a minus of 3.1 percent or 7,410 units. However, this development is well above auto-schweiz's expectations. The Association of Swiss Automobile Importers anticipates a market decline of around five percent for the current year. Andreas Burgener, director of auto-schweiz: "The market increase can be attributed primarily to the high demand for all-wheel drive vehicles, a familiar phenomenon for the fall."
The continuing trend toward electrified powertrains is encouraging. Gasoline hybrids doubled compared to the same month last year, and pure electric cars also grew in popularity. All alternative drive systems together accounted for 1,682 new vehicles. This represents an increase of 70.8 percent at a still low level, but with a growing market share of 6.4 percent. Diesel engines gained five percent.
www.auto-schweiz.ch
Photo: Archive
