Car sales up in strong quarter for local importers

50,213 new cars were delivered in Israel in the first quarter of 2010, 30% more than the first quarter of 2009
 
According to data released last week by the Israel Motor Vehicles Importers Association, 50,213 new cars were delivered in Israel in the first quarter of 2010, 30% more than the 38,600 new cars delivered in the first quarter of 2009.
 
Hyundai, according to the press release, was the biggest seller in March, with 2,785 cars, followed by Mazda with 2,630 new cars sold.
 
Mazda, however, was the top-selling brand in the first quarter, with 7,829 deliveries, up from 6,190 cars in the corresponding quarter last year.
 
Hyundai was in second place, with 7,411 deliveries in the first quarter, and Toyota was in third place, with 5,216 deliveries. Suzuki was a surprise in fourth place. Audi sold the most luxury cars in the first quarter, 411, followed closely by Volvo.
 
Ford had 1,750 deliveries in the first quarter, 43% fewer than in the corresponding quarter.
 
37% of all car deliveries in the first quarter of 2010 were Japanese models, up slightly from 36.4% in the corresponding quarter.
 
European models accounted for 30.2% of all deliveries and Korean models accounted for 10.5%.