Car registration figures show signs of recovery
The number of car registrations dropped year on year last month, but recovered after a dramatic decline in April.Federal statistics agency Statistik Austria announced today (Fri) 2.3 per cent fewer cars had been registered last month compared to the same month in 2009. The number of 29,057 registrations might however be regarded as good news by car dealers after their business suffered a year on year 11.6 per cent decline in the previous month.Around ten per cent less petrol-operated cars were registered in May 2010 compared to May 2009, while the number of diesel fuel vehicles jumped by around eight per cent.Statistics also showed that Volkswagen (VW) retained its status as AustriansÂ’ most popular car maker with a market share of around 17 per cent. VW topped the overall 2009 sales figures ahead of German rivals Opel and Audi.The number of lorry registrations improved by 13.9 per cent year on year in May, but analysts stressed that May 2009 had been a very difficult month for the industry.Around 4.4 million cars were registered in Austria in 2009, up by around two per cent compared to 2009.