Oxford, UK – World car registrations in May 2022 were down 10.3% compared with the same month in 2021 at 6.19 m units, according to LMC Automotive.
The consultants said that supply bottlenecks are the main problem in most regions, and manufacturers are unable to meet demand in most regions.
In the US, sales were down 29.2% in May at 1.11 m units. In the same month in 2021, US dealers sold 1.57m units. Prices are high because inventories of cars on lots are low, LMC said.
Sales in China of 1.9 m units were down 7.7% on the same month last year, when Chinese dealers sold 2.0m units. Although manufacturing numbers were down, the reopening of cities such as Shanghai in April led to a strong sales rebound.
In Western Europe, sales were 1.0m units in the month. This is 13.7% lower than the amount sold in May 2021. Consumer demand was higher earlier in the year, but has been dampened by the war in Ukraine.
Sales in Brazil and Argentina reached 207,000 units in the month. This compares with 197,000 units in the same month in 2021.
