Kings of the road

ENAR

Car dealers are trying to keep upbeat. Weaker consumer purchasing power, and the overall economic malaise in the country are making it hard to do so, even if on paper it looks as if there is still growth in the sector due to consistently solid sales volumes. According to the Automobile Importers Association (AIA), the number of newly registered car sales reached 28,811 in the first nine months of the year, up from a total of 26,601 cars sold during the same period of 2013. Such sales have surprised some, yet on a comparative basis the sector is down by 7 percent on 2012, and down by 12 percent on 2011. However, compared to a decade ago, when sales were 19,100 for the whole year, in 2004, the sector is keeping its volume edge reached in 2008 of 35,400 units, with a similar figure expected to be achieved this year.  The