New car registrations down in April

The number of new car registrations in Austria in April 2010 declined by 11.6 per cent year on year to 31,723, according to Austrian Times.

At the same time, the number of new lorry registrations rose by 6.8 per cent and that of tractors declined by 11.6 per cent year on year in April.

The number of registrations of motorcycles fell by 15.5 per cent year on year in April.

The number of registrations of new vehicles of all types declined by 11.2 per cent year on year to 45,687 in April but rose by 1.6 per cent compared to March.

Gustav Oberwallner, the head of the organisation Vehicle Trade, said the main reason for the decline of new car registrations in April had been the bonus programme for the junking of old cars that had been in effect in April 2009 but ended three months later.

The programme, which provided a bonus of 1,500 Euros for the junking of cars at least 13 years old, had stimulated sales of new cars in April 2009, he noted.
He added he was optimistic that sales of new cars would increase this year, especially those of less-expensive vehicles.

(Source: Port Strategy)