Figures released by the Association of Automobile Importers in Lebanon (AIA) indicate that a total of 4,723 new passenger cars were sold in the first two months of 2013, constituting an increase of 5.7% from the 4,467 cars sold in the same period last year.
Korean cars accounted for 46.7% of total sales, followed by Japanese cars with a 22.6% share, European automobiles with 22%, American vehicles with 6.6%, and Chinese cars with 2%. Chinese cars posted the highest growth in sales with a 244.4% rise year-on-year, followed by Korean cars with a 12.8% increase, and European cars with a 0.48% rise, while Japanese cars posted a 5.8% drop in sales year-on-year.
In parallel, the number of American cars remained unchanged from the same period last year. Kia is the leading brand in the Lebanese market with 1,275 cars sold in the first two months of 2013, followed by Hyundai with 932, Nissan with 555 cars sold, Toyota (243), Chevrolet (170), Volkswagen (141), and Renault (139). In parallel, a total of 315 new commercial vehicles were sold in the first two months of 2013, down 15.3% from the 372 vehicles sold in the same period last year, but up 11.3% from the 283 vehicles sold in the first two months of 2011.
Lebanon This Week – Byblos Bank
17 March
