The Israeli motor vehicles importers association reported that the effects of Operation Protective Edge in the Gaza strip have reached the Israeli motor vehicle sector.

According to Israeli motor vehicles importers association after a six-month surge in car deliveries, compared with the parallel period last year, deliveries in July slumped 14% to 18,466 units, compared with 21,000 in the corresponding month in 2014.

It is understood that the drop in sale is largely due to fewer orders by vehicle leasing companies, following the damage suffered by tourism, the economic paralysis in missile-battered southern Israel, and poorer logistics capability on the part of vehicle importers, a large number of which are concentrated around Ashdod and the Re'em Junction east of Ashdod.

Despite the July figures the cumulative 2014 figures are still positive: 153,977 vehicles were delivered in January-July, up 15.4% compared with the corresponding period in 2013. The leading brand in the January-July period was Hyundai with 20,757 deliveries, down 7%, compared with the corresponding period last year.

Toyota was in second place with 17,578 deliveries, up 58%, followed by Kia with 16,051 deliveries, a 26% increase. Mazda was in fourth place with 11,399 deliveries, a 57% increase, followed by Skoda with 8,858 deliveries, up 16.5%. Suzuki had sixth place with 8,587 deliveries, up 55%.