Market: Importers report green figures
THINGS ARE MOVING The market for new passenger cars in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein has finally returned to the profit zone with a strikingly impressive increase in September. Last month, 24,219 vehicles were registered for the first time in the two countries, an increase of 18.7 percent compared to the same month last year, which was characterized by delivery difficulties due to new emission standards [...].
Last month, 24,219 vehicles were registered for the first time in the two countries, an increase of 18.7% compared to the same month last year, which was characterized by delivery difficulties due to new emissions standards. At 226,310 new registrations, the cumulative total market after nine months is 0.5% up on the previous year and therefore slightly back in the green zone. The number of new passenger cars with alternative drive systems grew by three quarters.
Test cycle shows effects
Developments on the car market over the past month clearly show the impact of the switch to the new WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure) test cycle last year. At that time, some models were only available with a delay as the new emissions tests had to be carried out for all variants.
New cars only with Euro 6d-TEMP
The large increase in September also shows that manufacturers have evidently learned from last year's experience and are coping well with the second wave of the WLTP introduction on September 1 this year. Since last month, only new passenger cars that meet the Euro 6d-TEMP emissions standard have been allowed to be imported into Switzerland.
Christoph Wolnik from the importers' association auto-schweiz: "This is a great quarterly result and provides a tailwind for the last three months of the year. The growth has even slightly exceeded our expectations. Our target of around 308,000 new cars for the year as a whole should therefore be easily achievable."
Alternative drives still in vogue
Meanwhile, the growth of alternative drive systems continues apace. With a market share of 16.2 percent in September, another record was set for a single month. At 3921, registrations more than doubled compared to the same month last year. Since the beginning of the year, 26,274 new passenger cars with hybrid, electric, gas or fuel cell drive systems have hit the roads. Hybrid engines grew by 54.4 percent, electric cars by 153.9 percent and CNG models by 18.2 percent.
In view of the rapidly growing range of models on offer, auto-schweiz firmly expects to achieve its own "10/20" target of a 10 percent market share for plug-in vehicles in the new car market in 2020.
