Brazil's Automobile Industry Hits New Record: 3.3M Cars Sold in 2010

Sales of cars and light commercial vehicles in Brazil in December hit a record high totaling 361,300 units, bringing the total for 2010 to 3.33 million units, an increase of 10.6% over the 3.01 million 2009. The annual volume confirms the expectation of industry on the fourth consecutive record sales in the sector.

This is a very high number considering that in the U.S. sells about 10M total vehicles are sold every year.

In comparison with November, December sales were 16% larger; compared to the same month of 2009 were up 30%.

The previous monthly record in March 2010, was 337,400 cars and light commercial vehicles and had been driven by consumers anticipating the withdrawal of the sales incentives granted by the federal government when the financial crisis hit the country in late 2008 .

In recent years, the month of December comes with peaks of registrations of vehicles in a move that automakers and dealers rush to close their balance sheets.

For 2011, the renewal of Anfavea expects record sales in 2010 to 3.63 million vehicles - including trucks and buses also.

Although Fiat has ended 2010 in the lead industry, General Motors and Ford had the highest sales growth among the four leading carmakers in the country.

The Italian automaker ended 2010 with sales of 760,495 cars and light commercial vehicles, up 3.2% on the volume sold in 2009. Volkswagen sold 700,354 vehicles, up 2.3 percent. General Motors recorded 657,700 registrations, an expansion of 10.4%. Ford ended the year with 336,281 units sold, up 10.6%.