Figures released by the Association of Automobile Importers in Lebanon (AIA) indicate that a total of 10,884 new passenger cars were sold in the first four months of 2013, constituting an increase of 7% from 10,169 cars sold in the same period last year.
Korean cars accounted for 48.6% of total sales, followed by Japanese cars with a 23.1% share, European automobiles with 20.4%, American vehicles with 6%, and Chinese cars with 1.9%. Chinese cars posted the highest growth in sales with a 175.7% rise year-on-year, followed by Korean cars with a 13.7% increase, European cars with a 6.8% growth and American cars with a 5.2% rise.
In parallel, Japanese cars posted a contraction in sales with an 8.3% drop year-on-year. Kia is the leading brand in the Lebanese market with 3,107 cars sold in the first four months of 2013, followed by Hyundai with 2,187, Nissan with 1,313 cars sold, Toyota (530), Chevrolet (345), Renault (301) and Volkswagen (278). In parallel, a total of 681 new commercial vehicles were sold in the first four months of 2013, down 10.6% from the 762 vehicles sold in the same period last year, but up 18% from the 577 vehicles sold in the same period of 2011.
Ifpinfo
25 may
