According to data compiled by the Association of Car Importers in Lebanon, the number of newly registered car sales stood at 23,012 in the first eight months of 2012, rising by 7.6% from a total of 21,382 cars sold a year earlier. During the month of August 2012, newly registered cars totaled 2,825, against 2,826 cars in August 2011.
The Association of Car Importers in Lebanon pointed out that yearly more than 90% of the newly registered cars in the aforementioned period of this year consist of those of smaller sizes with their prices hovering around US$ 11,000 on average. Such a shift in demand due to the rise in gasoline prices, the lack of organized public transportation, and the competition between local agents means that the value of sales declined, as per the same source.
Korea’s Kia ranked first in terms of new car registration during the first eight months of 2012 with a total of 6,162 cars, against a total of 5,479 during the same period of last year. It was followed by Korea’s Hyundai with a total of 4,045 newly registered cars in the first eight months of 2012, higher than the total of 3,486 cars registered a year earlier.
Japan’s Nissan came third with 3,928 newly registered cars in the first eight months of 2012, against 3,772 cars recorded in the same period of last year. Fourth was Japan’s Toyota with 1,152 newly registered cars in the aforementioned period of this year, compared with a total of 945 cars recorded in the same period of last year. The United States’ Chevrolet ranked fifth with 948 newly registered cars in the first eight months of 2012, versus a total of 892 cars posted in the same period of last year.
A breakdown by continent shows that 10,209 newly registered cars came from Korea in the first eight months of 2012, up by 13.8% from 8,971 cars recorded in the same period of last year. Those from Japan amounted to 6,322 cars in the aforesaid period of this year, against 6,437 cars a year earlier. They were followed by European cars with a total of 4,792 vehicles, up by 5.5% from 4,544 recorded a year earlier. Then came those from the US with 1,407 vehicles, up by 10.1% from the total of 1,278 cars recorded in the first eight months of 2011.
LWM – Bank Audi
25 September
