Germany to gain market share by producing more smaller cars
- Source: Xinhua
- [08:09 January 04 2010]
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To gain more market share, German automakers will produce more smaller cars in 2010, automotive an industry leader said last Thursday.
German carmakers need to hold and further strengthen their position at global stage to counter an anticipated decline at home market after the termination of domestic scrappage scheme, said Matthias Wissmann, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA).
"Now we are attacking in the small car segment, with cars that only use about three litres of fuel for 100 kilometres," Wissmann said.
VDA estimated that sales could decline from more than 3.8 million vehicles in 2009 to between 2.75 million and 3 million in 2010.
Wissmann said special factors helped the German car industry grow this year and the market was expected to return to normal next year.
Under the scrappage scheme, German consumers could receive 2,500 euros ($3,600) from the government when they scrapped cars at least nine years old and bought new ones.
The scheme expired in September, having pushed car sales for 2009 in Germany up to 3.8 million or a quarter more in comparison to the previous year, according to VDA statistics.
