Auto execs predict 77K new cars to be sold in P.R. in ‘16
Ricardo García, president of the trade group known as GUIA.
The United Group of Automobile Importers, an organization that represents the Puerto Rico automobile industry, predicted Tuesday that this some 77,000 new cars will be sold this year on the island, marking the third consecutive year of decreased activity.
In 2015 a total of 81,357 units were sold in Puerto Rico, compared to 88,200 units sold in 2014, which represents a 7.8 percent reduction, said Ricardo García, president of the trade group known as GUIA for its initials in Spanish.
“December 2015 sales registered a 2.6 percent drop, representing the 20th month out of 21 in which the industry reports a decrease in new automobile sales in Puerto Rico, and we expect that this trend will continue in 2016,” he said.
The last time the island registered 77,000 new vehicles sold was in 1999, according to GUIA data.
“We will continue to explore new areas of opportunity to strengthen our industry and will focus in customer satisfaction,” García said.
Last year, an increase in fleet sales was registered, with 10,534 units sold in Puerto Rico, compared to 10,039 units sold in 2014, representing a 4.9 percent growth in the segment.
GUIA is an independent, nonprofit organization created in 2006 to manage issues directly related to the automobile industry, as well as Puerto Rico’s general economy. GUIA members represent more than 96 percent of total new vehicle sales in Puerto Rico.
