Rise in car sales in Spain during February

The number of new cars sold in Spain during February was close to reaching the 100,000 mark, according to figures published on Tuesday by the association of Spanish car producers, ANFAC.

ANFAC confirmed that 97,650 new cars were sold during February, 12.6 percent higher than in the same month in 2015 and the best February performance in the new-car market since 2008.

The data means Spaniards have purchased 173,984 new cars since the turn of the year, 12.4 percent up on the 2015 figures for January and February and confirms two and a half years of continued rises in sales.

A sharp improvement in sales of company cars is partly responsible for the positive figures, with Spanish businesses responsible for 24.4 percent of the total purchases (24,257 vehicles in February and 47,366 in the first two months of the year.)

This is a 24.7 percent rise in sales and it contrasts with the slight 2.8 percent rise in the number of cars bought by private individuals during January and February, when compared with 2015.

ANFAC says positive trend is "the reflection of the economic improvement in the country," while also highlighting the effect of the government's Plan PIVE, which is aimed at stimulating car sales.

However, the association also warns that the average age of cars on Spanish roads is 11.6 years and stresses the need to continue trying to bring that down, for a number of factors such as better road safety and the reduced environmental impact provided by newer models. Endit