December vehicle deliveries down 54%

Vehicle deliveries in 2008 were nevertheless slightly higher than in 2007.

6,964 vehicles were delivered in Israel in December 2008, 54% fewer than in December 2007, and almost half the monthly average last year, according to the Israel Motor Vehicles Importers Association, on the basis of licensing figures.

The drop in vehicle deliveries in the fourth quarter did not offset strong deliveries in January-September. 194,226 vehicles were delivered in all of 2008, 1.6% more than in 2007.

156,698 cars were delivered in 2008, less than 1% fewer than in 2007. Off-road vehicle deliveries rose 18% to 16,100 in 2008, and deliveries of commercial vehicles, excluding pick-up trucks, rose 7.3% to 15,455.

A breakdown of deliveries by brand showed that Mazda was the lead brand, with 31,461 deliveries in 2008, 12% more than in 2007. Toyota was in second place, with 20,334 deliveries in 2008, 6% fewer than in 2007; Hyundai was in third place, with 20,024 delivers, down 11%; Chevrolet was in fourth place, with 13,680 deliveries, up 27%; Honda was in fifth place, with 12,699 deliveries, up 31%; and Ford was in sixth place, with 10,928 deliveries, down 19%.

A breakdown of deliveries by importer shows that Ford and Mazda importer Delek Motors Ltd. was in first place, with 42,389 deliveries in 2008, 1.9% more than in 2007. Delek Motors' market share was a dominant 22%. Mercedes Benz, Mitsubishi, and Hyundai importer Colmobil Ltd. was in second place, with 30,136 deliveries in 2008, 9.8% fewer than in 2007, and with a 15.5% market share. Toyota importer Union Motors Ltd. was in third place with a market share of 10.4%. Chevrolet, Isuzu, Opel, Buick, and Cadillac importer UMI Ltd. was in fourth place, with 12,685 deliveries in 2008, 32% more than in 2007, and with a market share of 8.6%.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 5, 2009

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2009

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