French car sales slump 7 per cent as market struggles

Sales by the PSA Peugeot Citroen group fell 9.9 per cent, 
the figures showed. — AFP pic

PARIS, Aug 2 — French car sales dropped seven per cent in July, trade data showed Wednesday, as the key sector struggles with a stagnant European market.

Sales of new cars in France slipped by 7 per cent in July on the basis of unadjusted data and a 12-month comparison to 148,966 vehicles, the manufacturers’ organisation CCFA said.

The drop came despite the fact there were two extra working days in the month compared with July 2011.

Sales by the PSA Peugeot Citroen group fell 9.9 per cent and by Renault 11.2 per cent, the figures showed.

The French market has been weak for several months owing to the end of a cash-for-clunkers government bonus to support car sales at the height of the financial crisis. In addition, the French economy is struggling.

France last week announced that it would boost support for environmentally friendly cars as part of a rescue plan unveiled amid growing concern for top carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen.

PSA Peugeot Citroen posted a net loss of €819 million (RM) for the first half of this year, more than reversing a year-earlier net profit of 806 million euros.

The company, which employs 100,000 people in France but had already announced 8,000 job cuts there, said it will implement a €1.5-billion cost reduction plan through to 2015. — AFP/Relaxnews