The Spanish car market continued to decline in May, with a 10.9% decrease in car and SUV registrations, which stood at 84,977 units. In the first five months of 2022, the market accumulates a decline of 11.5%, to 318,487 units.
Despite the new decline, caused by the shortage of supply due to the semiconductor crisis and the general context of uncertainty, organizations in the sector highlighted some signs of improvement. Among them, the increase in sales to individuals (4.3% to 34,666 units) and to companies (3.3% and 32,076 vehicles). On the contrary, those corresponding to companies dedicated to vehicle rental continued with their collapse, with a new drop of 41.4% in May and 18,235 units.
The director of Anfac's economy and logistics area, Aránzazu Mur, said that the new drop in the market "shows the delicate situation that the automotive sector is going through, due to a greater extent to the microchip crisis that does not allow the manufacture of rhythm that marks the demand”, although he also valued the rebound in sales to individuals and companies. Raúl Morales, director of communication for Faconauto, pointed out that in May a "slight improvement" was noted in orders at dealerships, although he pointed out that current volumes anticipate a market closing closer to 800,000 units than to 900,000.
Tania Puche, from the Ganvam vendor organization, valued that the best number of registrations this year has been achieved in May.
On the other hand, the increase in sales of electric vehicles continued: 12.6% in May, and 65.27% so far this year, with a total of 13,169 units. The set of registrations of alternative vehicles to gasoline and diesel increased by 10.6% in May (almost 16% in the first five months). Despite this, the general director of Anfac, José López-Tafall, pointed out that electrified vehicles are a "still minority" reality in the Spanish market and that despite having a "wide" supply of this type of vehicle, the demand does not respond to the same extent. For this reason, he called for measures such as accelerating the promotion of recharging infrastructure, greater efficiency in aid plans or a favorable fiscal framework.
Seat was the best-selling brand in the month of May, after registering 8,118 units, 25% less, while its Arona model was the market leader in the month.
