Spanish automotive sector output slumps in March

Spanish automotive production and exports both fell sharply in March as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak. The sector also saw its performance fall in the first quarter, Kallanish learns from monthly data issued by the local Asociación Nacional de Fabricantes de Automóviles y Camiones (Anfac).

“The coronavirus crisis is strongly impacting the automotive sector. Production of vehicles in Spain might drop by more than 700,000 units this year to near 2 million vehicles. This figure would be the lowest since 2012 when the country`s output reached 1,979,000 units,” Anfac says. “The automotive industry is demanding urgent measures from the Spanish government to prevent further economic hardship and mitigate significant layoffs because the restart of the plants is happening very slowly and the lack of demand will continue to paralyse the sector,” the association adds.

Spain`s automotive production totalled only 143,737 units in March, -45.1% down in comparison to the same period of 2019. During Q1, the country`s output was 646,221 vehicles. This volume was -14.6% less than in the period January-March 2019.

Spanish vehicle exports were 128,958 units during March, a fall of -37.7% on-year. Shipments abroad also fell by -11.8% on a cumulative comparison to 529,117 units in the first quarter, Anfac adds.