Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
  • Tire Business
web
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Automotive
    • Tire
    • Non-Tire
    • Suppliers
    • Silicone
    • Latex
    • Coronavirus
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Opinion
    • Technical Notebooks
    • Women in Tire & Rubber
    • ITEC
    • International Elastomer Show
    • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Trinseo taps K.D. Feddersen to supply soft-touch elastomers
      Goodyear promotes Chris Helsel, expanding his global technology, operational role
      Cooper expands recall of Cooper, Mastercraft grand-touring tires
      Conti to market contract custom mixing business
    • Conti recalling 94,000 LT/SUV tires
      Goodyear promotes Chris Helsel, expanding his global technology, operational role
      Cooper expands recall of Cooper, Mastercraft grand-touring tires
      Birla Carbon again recognized for sustainability efforts
    • ASC seeks presenters for fall convention
      Birla Carbon again recognized for sustainability efforts
      Carlisle TyrFil out with new recycling technology
      Cooper Standard ranked among 'World's Most Ethical Companies'
    • Trinseo taps K.D. Feddersen to supply soft-touch elastomers
      New products: MonTech offering customized bale cutters
      Synthomer dismisses takeover reports
      Zochem names Univar Solutions as ‘Distributor of Year'
    • Stockwell Elastomerics' legacy moves on
      Larger mixers tout economies of scale, along with the need for speed
      Hexpol, Bloom deal with COVID, reorganization, fire since start of 2020
      Small, mid-size compounders keep value, agility, service 'in the mix'
    • Ohio firm focuses on making better masks in U.S.
      U.S. to increase NBR, make gloves using Defense Production Act
      Tire Cologne canceled; rescheduled for 2022
      Tire Technology Expo canceled for 2021
    • Goodyear promotes Chris Helsel, expanding his global technology, operational role
      Stockwell Elastomerics' legacy moves on
      Dana Inc. hires Byron Foster in executive role
      Dana hires new senior vice president of global operations
    • Conti recalling 94,000 LT/SUV tires
      Cooper expands recall of Cooper, Mastercraft grand-touring tires
      ASC seeks presenters for fall convention
      VMI, Safe-Run differ over latest ruling in patent case
    • Column: Discussions of race, equality may mean uncomfortable moments
      Column: Business trips possible because of essential workers
      Editorial: Associations see opportunity for progress under new administration
      Editorial: Against a backdrop of turmoil, M&A deals give glimpse of normalcy
    • Studying RPA ASTM methods for detecting compound quality differences
      Damage mechanism in oil and gas formulations during downhole testing
      Advancements in synchronous drive belt design for industrial and consumer markets
      Effects of multiple repurposed materials for reinforcements of standard rubber compounds
    • Rubber Division introduces WORD webinar series
      WORD panelists say evolution, authenticity keys to success
      New video celebrates women in rubber industry
      ITEC panelists say women can thrive in tire industry
    • Goodyear recognized by Lockheed Martin as 'elite supplier'
      EV tire advancements to help secure future
      Lambillotte: Only question on AVs is timing
      CAR official says EV future brighter than autonomous
    • Rubber Division introduces WORD webinar series
      Rubber Division seeks abstracts for 200th Technical Meeting
      WORD panelists say evolution, authenticity keys to success
      IEC keynote: Communication key to logistics
    • Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Faster Access to Your Polymer Compounding Experts Around the World
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Take a walk thru a HEXPOL Lab
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      HEXPOL offers a unique selection of High Performance Elastomers to match your application requirements
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      It’s what you can’t see that makes the Difference at HEXPOL
  • Blogs
    • Products
    • Wacky World of Rubber
    • New Products: Starrett expands field-of-view for multi-sensor vision system
      New Products: Nova thinks outside the box with sealing tech
      New Products: MonTech introduces 1,500 kN lab press
      New products: 3M introduces new durable, pliable medical adhesive
    • Wacky World of Rubber: How Trelleborg, teens sealed a spot in the world record book
      Wacky World of Rubber: Of chicken and feet, but not chicken feet
      Wacky World of Rubber: Time to go mattress shopping
      Wacky World of Rubber: Because nothing says football like 'frunk' shrimp
  • Newsletters
    • Rubber in Automotive
    • Silicone News
    • Latex News
    • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Trinseo taps K.D. Feddersen to supply soft-touch elastomers
      Goodyear promotes Chris Helsel, expanding his global technology, operational role
      Cooper expands recall of Cooper, Mastercraft grand-touring tires
      Conti to market contract custom mixing business
    • Stockwell Elastomerics' legacy moves on
      Larger mixers tout economies of scale, along with the need for speed
      Hexpol, Bloom deal with COVID, reorganization, fire since start of 2020
      Small, mid-size compounders keep value, agility, service 'in the mix'
    • Sri Trang Gloves starts major capacity expansion
      Synthomer dismisses takeover reports
      Combined Goodyear-Cooper Tire company has tire tech, sustainability edge
      Helixtap launches new digital marketplace for rubber
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Directory
  • Resources
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
    • Sponsored By HB Chemical
      Above and Beyond with HB Chemical
      Sponsored By HB Chemical
      The Company Behind the Inventory
      Sponsored By French Oil Mill Machinery
      Process Improvement, Cost Reduction with Custom Press Systems
      Sponsored By HB Chemical
      Above and Beyond with HB Chemical
    • Sponsored By Uncountable Inc.
      Labs of the Future: How to Choose a Laboratory Information Management System in 2021
      Sponsored By Uncountable Inc.
      Cooper Standard deploys lab informatics platform to synchronize R&D
      Sponsored By Elkem
      LSR Select™: A solution to improve your financial impact in molding applications
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Peroxide Cureable Silicone Injection Molding
  • Data
  • Events
    • RPN Events
    • RPN Livestreams/Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Past Events
    • ITEC Library
    • International Silicone Conference Library
    • 2021 Healthcare Elastomers Virtual Edition
      2021 Rubber in Automotive Virtual Edition
      2021 International Latex Conference Virtual Edition
      2022 ITEC
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Automotive
August 18, 2020 03:40 PM

July global automotive sales show ‘broad but fragile' recovery

Automotive News Europe
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    LONDON—Vehicle sales fell by 6.8 percent worldwide in July, as the world's auto markets show signs of a broad-based, but fragile recovery from coronavirus lockdowns, according to a new report from analyst firm LMC Automotive.

    The global selling rate for the month rose to 86 million vehicles, continuing an increase that started in mid-April as some countries eased restrictions on movement and commerce. Sales still were down by 25 percent through July. Most analysts are predicting an annual decline of no less than 20 percent for total sales of around 70 million.

    At the end of June, LMC was expecting a 20 percent decline in global annual sales, to 70 million, and production, to about 71 million units.

    LMC said, however, that it was difficult to assess the real state of the market.

    "One important aspect of the speed of selling rate recovery has been pent-up demand, which itself masks the current underlying level of market strength," LMC said.

    Registrations in western Europe fell by 5.7 percent in the month, with incentives and scrapping plans helping the market return to pre-pandemic selling rates. At the same time, sales in eastern Europe rose by 17 percent for the month. Western Europe showed the largest loss for the year of all markets tracked by LMC, with a decline of 36 percent.

    LMC forecasts that sales in western Europe will fall by 24 percent this year to 10.85 million vehicles. In contrast, sales in western Europe have been stable since 2016, fluctuating between 13.95 million and 14.3 million. That is a slight improvement from the end of June, when LMC forecasted a 26 percent drop.

    Another analyst, French-based Inovev, said recently that sales in all of Europe would fall from 25 percent to 35 percent this year, with key factors including the extent of government subsidies and the progression of COVID-19.

    Strong rebound in China

    China continued its "V-shaped" recovery, LMC said, with wholesale deliveries up 13 percent in July versus a 6.6 percent gain in June as factories canceled summer breaks to catch up on production. The July selling rate reached 31 million vehicles, the highest since September 2017. The selling rate for May, June and July was higher than the rate in the last quarter of 2019, LMC said. Chinese sales remained in the red for the year, however, down 15 percent.

    LMC predicts light-vehicle sales will fall by 9.5 percent in China, with particular risk for auto makers at the bottom of the sales table and EV startups. The top 10 players increased their total market share to 60 percent this year from 50 percent in 2016.

    Japan and South Korea also performed relatively strongly, with Japanese sales falling by 14 percent compared to a low point in May of minus-45 percent, although a recent rise in COVID-19 cases threatens the recovery, LMC said. South Korea sales benefited earlier in the year from a cut in the excise tax; that cut was reduced at the end of June, hurting the selling rate somewhat but keeping it at a high level at 1.8 million units per year, although below May's all-time high of 2.3 million.

    For the year, South Korea sales are up 8 percent, as the country was able to contain the spread of the virus without long and painful lockdowns.

    Sales in the U.S. fell by 11 percent but prices increased by an average of $393, with dealer cash incentives unchanged, LMC said. The market is down 22 percent for the year.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber & Plastics News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber & Plastics News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber & Plastics News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    web
    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Contact the Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Automotive
      • Tire
      • Non-Tire
      • Suppliers
      • Silicone
      • Latex
      • Coronavirus
      • Executive Action
      • Government/Legal
      • Opinion
      • Technical Notebooks
      • Women in Tire & Rubber
      • ITEC
      • International Elastomer Show
      • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Blogs
      • Products
      • Wacky World of Rubber
    • Newsletters
      • Rubber in Automotive
      • Silicone News
      • Latex News
      • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Multimedia
      • Videos
      • Photo Galleries
    • Directory
    • Resources
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Data
    • Events
      • RPN Events
      • RPN Livestreams/Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • Past Events
      • ITEC Library
      • International Silicone Conference Library
    • Advertise
    • DIGITAL EDITION