Industry Analysis & Industry Trends
The Global Sale of Motor Vehicles industry is in the breakdown lane following a stormy end to 2008. The financial crisis that crippled the US economy rippled through other countries around the globe, causing unemployment to rise and wealth to dive. Due to lower disposable income and growing pessimism about the future, demand for cars dropped. Motor vehicle sales crashed in 2008 and 2009, although they rose in 2010. Over the five years through 2011, industry revenue is forecast to decrease by 0.2% annually to $3.4 trillion. Revenue growth of 4.8% is expected in the current year.
In the United States, the government intervened through a scrappage incentive, but the country still performed poorly over the year. In Western Europe, the situation was not as dire... read more
Industry Locations
North America and Europe were traditionally the top two regions, with mature economies such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany and France typically accounting for large proportions of sales. All this changed in 2009, when the financial crisis tore through the global economy and left car sales in tatters in most Western countries. North America will be the major loser, dropping to third on the global ladder, behind Europe and North Asia. Europe's relatively better performance was mainly due to successful government incentives throughout the year (unlike the one-off cash for clunkers instigated by the US Government in August). Europe is expected to lose market share in 2010, while North America will maintain its share... read more