According to data compiled by the Association of Car Importers in Lebanon, the number of newly registered cars stood at 13,418 in the first five months of 2012, against a total of 11,737 cars recorded a year earlier. During the month of May 2012, newly registered cars totaled 3,249, up by 21.7% from 2,669 seen in May 2011.
Korea’s Kia ranked first in terms of new car registration during the first five months of 2012 with a total of 3,832 cars, against a total of 2,940 during the same period of last year. It was followed by Korea’s Hyundai with 2,331 newly registered cars in the first five months of 2012, against 1,964 cars recorded in the same period of last year.
Japan’s Nissan came third with a total of 2,314 newly registered cars in the first five months of 2012, higher than the total of 1,888 cars registered a year earlier. Fourth was Japan’s Toyota with 702 newly registered cars in the aforementioned period of this year, compared to a total of 564 cars recorded in the same period of last year. The United States’ Chevrolet ranked fifth with 583 newly registered cars in the first five months of 2012, versus a total of 476 cars posted in the same period of last year.
A breakdown by continent shows that 6,165 newly registered cars came from Korea in the first five months of 2012, up by 25.7% from the same period of last year. Those from Japan amounted to 3,724 cars in the aforesaid period of this year, up by 6.6% from 3,495 cars a year earlier. They were followed by European cars with a total of 2,601 vehicles, up by 1.0% from 2,586 recorded a year earlier. Then came those from the US with 834 vehicles, up by 25.6% from the total of 664 cars recorded in the first five months of 2011.
Lebanon Weekly Monitor – Bank Audi
3 July
