Almost 45,000 new cars were registered in the Canary Islands in 2022

The new car market closed the year in the Canary Islands with a total of 44,711 cars and SUVs registered in 2022, which represents a growth of 22.3% compared to 2021, but is still 24% less compared to 2019, the year before the pandemic.

Breaking down the figures, all sectors of registrations grew in 2022. The number of business/company cars was up 52.14% with 14,015 units registered throughout the year; Rent a Cars were up by 13.77% with 10,021 new registrations; and sales to individuals/private buyers were up 11.68% to 20,675 registered units throughout 2022.

“It is the first year after the pandemic in which sales to individuals have grown which is a true barometer for the sector, and means that the domestic economies are recovering little by little”, explained the president of Faconauto Canarias, “but unfortunately 2022 wasn’t the year of the long-awaited full recovery for the sector," he added.

DECEMBER WAS THE WORST MONTH OF THE YEAR:

December’s sales figures were the worst of the year compared to 2021 as both families and companies have tightened their belts in the face of the economic uncertainty that is coming in this new year.

A total of 3,918 passenger cars and SUVs were registered in the Canary Islands in December 2022, which is 16.14% less compared to December 2021.

Faconauto Canarias also clarified that there were transport problems in December meaning that a high number of vehicles already sold didn’t go into 2022 figures.

However, the two-wheel market grew by 17.67% during the month of December with 1,059 motorcycles and mopeds registered compared to December 2021, and a total of 10,161 registered motorcycles throughout 2022, which represents a growth of 23.57% compared to 2021.

On the other hand, the penetration of electric vehicles into the Canary Islands car market continues to be slow, and the scarce development of the charging network in the archipelago is even more worrying, which continues to be the main objection from potential buyers.

In 2022, only 2,118 pure electric passenger cars and SUVs were sold on the islands, representing a market share of 4.74%, compared to 28,182 petrol vehicles; 1,495 diesel-powered; 1,763 plug-in hybrids; 3,568 self-recharging hybrids; and 6,873 mild hybrids. The rest of the technologies closed 2022 with 1 hydrogen vehicle sold, and 711 LPG cars.

Faconauto warns that 2023 will not be the year of full recovery either, and maintaining employability in the sector is beginning to be quite worrisome for Canarian car dealers. The first four months of 2023 will continue to be a very difficult period for the automotive industry, with very limited production, and with the same supply and transportation problems, derived from the war between Russia and Ukraine.