Spanish automotive industry slowly recovers in May

The Spanish automotive sector showed some recovery on-month in May after the Covid-19 outbreak hit its performance, Kallanish learns from monthly data issued by the local Asociación Nacional de Fabricantes de Automóviles y Camiones (Anfac).

“The reactivation of the Spanish factories during the month allowed an improvement with respect to the figures registered during April, a period during which output was practically halted in Spain,” Anfac says. However, the return of activity has been very gradual and production levels remain far from normal.

“New car registrations in Europe suffered a significant contraction in April and May with falls of -76% and -52%, respectively. The reopening of the markets, especially in Germany and France, has allowed the deceleration in production to be mitigated by the progressive evolution of exports,” the association adds.

Spain’s automotive production totalled 92,900 units in May compared to the volume of 294,433 during the same month in 2019. January-May output was 744,955 vehicles, -41.6% less than in the first five months of 2019.

Spanish vehicle exports were 81,802 units during April, or 158,209 units less on-year. Five-month shipments abroad also fell, by -39.9% to 614,930 units, Anfac adds.