46 per cent year-on-year slump in sales

Bulgaria’s dealers of new cars registered the weakest January on record as data released by the industry association revealed a 46 per cent year-on-year slump in sales, Dnevnik said.

The global financial crisis put many car purchase plans on the back burner and made banks and leasing firms pickier in accepting applications from potential customers.

Traditionally the slackest month of the year, January saw the number of sold vehicles drop to 2300 from 4309 a year earlier. Dealers sold 2204 cars, 91 lorries, five buses and six motorcycles.

The market plummeted 76 per cent in to December 2008, compared to the same month of 2007, but closed the full year 4.6 per cent higher.

Volkswagen dealer Porsche BG, who sold the third most cars in 2008, moved on top of the market in January with 287 deals, or 13 per cent of the market.

Former number one Opel, which has eight local distributors, slipped to share fifth place with Peugeot dealer Sofia France Auto.

Citroen dealer Automotor Corporation leapfrogged from seventh to second position, on the back of a supply deal with the Interior Ministry for 154 vehicles.

Mercedez dealer Balkan Star sold 53 trucks, while Iveco struck 27 sales deals.

Source: Transportweekly