Turkey auto sales up 79.6 pct, as European market contracts in first quarter

Auto sales in Turkey grew 79.6 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2011 to 192,488 units, Turkish Association of Automotive Distributors (ODD) announced on Thursday.

In Europe, January-March auto sales dropped 0.2 percent to 4.2 million units.

Recent statistics put Turkey into the 7th place among European countries.

Light commercial vehicle (LCV) sales increased 6 percent in EU27+EFTA countries to 181,059 units in March 2011. LCV sales in Europe climbed 10.6 percent in Jan-Mar period.

In Turkey, LCV sales soared 36 percent in March and 63.9 percent in first quarter to 24,225 units and 58,736 units, respectively.

First quarter LCV sales hit a record high in Turkish automotive industry and placed Turkey in the 3rd spot in Europe car sales.


/World Bulletin/