Spain's car sales rise by 23.3% in August

Sales of new cars in Spain rose by 23.3 percent in August when compared with the same month of a year earlier, according to data published on Tuesday by Spain's automobile industry organizations.

The Association of Car Manufacturers (ANFAC), the Federation of Association of Dealers of the Automotive sector (FACONAUTO) and the Association of Car Dealers (GANVAM) posted a total of 55,918 new cars purchased in August.

Firms bought 17,073 unities, which meant a 38.4 percent rise year-on-year, while sales of private cars rose by 18.3 percent to a total of 37,129 purchases.

In the first eight months of the year sales of new cars in Spain rose by 22.3 percent reaching 714,062 unities with sales of private cars reaching 372,406 unities and those of firms reaching 184,560 unities.

Sales of new cars have been rising for two years.

David Barrientos, Director of Communication at ANFAC, said that cars' purchases were becoming a key factor that boosted consumption, which at the same time contributed to a rise in Spanish GDP.

The organizations highlighted the rise in domestic demand as a sign of the country's economic recovery that in the case of the automobile sector had been helped by the Plan PIVE, which gives prospective buyers financial aid to purchase cars.

The president of GANVAM, Juan Antonio Sanchez Torres, said Plan PIVE was the "perfect antidote" for a weak market and urged the government to extend the plan.

The president of FACONAUTO, Jaume Roure, said that taking into account the data showed in August they expected "a good September and a good year".