1 Website of the Embassy of France in China

The month of March 2009 reflects an increase of 8.1 of the sales of new vehicles in France. A return to growth which experts attribute to the differential case.

Before the crisis: a promising market and continued growth

Automotive industry experienced these past nine years a positive growth sustained by the markets of emerging countries, and particularly in the BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India, China) which should represent 45 of the total automobile production in three years. In 2006, the growth of the sector undergoes a slight drop before climbing back up the following year, excellent year in terms of results for the automotive sector, with an increase of sales volumes of 4.6. In mature markets (Europe in the West, the Vancouver America), the situation is more mixed. So far, the world production of a French automakers increased 53 since 1997. The US economy, which depends on the global balance, is the first affected by the financial crisis, as early as 2007. The recession threat to its economy causes a decline in sales race track 2.5 1. She lost 6 of its employees this year, which means a fall of 25 of its jobs since 2000. Save the auto industry becomes one of the main objectives of the United States Government.

October 2008: the crisis is net growth of the sector

The French market has really affected by the economic crisis and in 2008. After a slowdown in the summer, the motors sector suffered the crisis head-on from the end of September / October 2008:-7 sales for the French market of automobile in octobre2. In the global automotive market, it amounts to 4.8 of sales. N 1 of the US market, the American automaker General Motors, registered a 45 fall in the United States last October. Mark LaNeve, Vice President of General Motors announced October 2008 was the "worst month for auto sales" since the second world war! The second constructor of the market, Toyota, has also been affected by the crisis, with a decline of 26.

March 2009, a slight improvement in the figures

The automotive sector has experienced difficult months but, according to the monthly survey of conditions in the sector, the employees of the automobile note a slight improvement in their activity, which should be confirmed. "The conditions in the retail trade and commerce and car repair improves slightly: the synthetic indicator of business climate progress for the third consecutive month since its low point in December 2008" according to the INSEE. The month of March is representative of this improvement with an increase of 8.1 of the sales of new vehicles in France. A return to growth specialists bind, for at least one-third, the premium to the casse2. However, stocks are still well below what they should be. In the United States, first world manufacturer, sales represented last February 9,12 million units, the lowest figure recorded since December 1981, while these past seven years, annual sales ranged between 16 and 17 million units. China is now the second globally with 9.4 million vehicles sold in 2008. The figures for 2009 should be improved. The avowed objective of the Government is to make China 1 constructor world equipment and automotive on the horizon 20153. American and Chinese market determines largely the climate and the trends of the global automotive market due to their weight and their consumption level.

The market turns also gradually towards environmentally friendly products: hybrid and electric cars. If for the moment the market is little exploited, China wants to become the leader in this field, enabling future. The "e6", presented at the Salon of Shanghai could be launched before the end of 2009. It would become the first all-electric car put on sale in the world.

As a symbol of the grim situation, the 2010 edition of the "British International Motor Show", the English, the most popular motor show in Europe after Geneva and Paris, has already been cancelled. A first world war.

1 Website of the Embassy of France in China