Jump-start for new car sales
After a recession-hit 2009, sales of new cars in 2010 increased by 10.6 per cent in Switzerland to 294,239, the highest figure since 2002.
“This is a very pleasing result – we couldn’t count on such a rise beforehand,” said Andreas Burgener, director of the Swiss Automobile Importers’ Association, on Wednesday.
In 2009 car sales dropped by 7.8 per cent, with the biggest loser being German carmaker Opel which, facing uncertainty over its future, saw sales plummet by a quarter. Last year however Opel sales in Switzerland bounced back, rising by 15.7 per cent.
Nevertheless, the clear favourite in Switzerland remains Volkswagen, selling 33,839 vehicles, up 14.8 per cent on the year. This is followed by Renault (17,046 – up 13.2 per cent) and Audi (16,910 – up 0.7 per cent).
The biggest losers in 2010 were Lancia and Dodge, whose sales fell by 24.1 per cent and 19.2 per cent respectively.
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