Car sales continue to fall, motorbikes on the rise

CAR sales continue to fall in the Balearics, as more people apparently turn to motorcycles as a speedy way of getting around the island, according to the latest registration figures released by the traffic authorities. The report shows that the number of cars registered in the Balearics in September was 2'905, representing a 13.7 per cent drop compared to the same month last year. This came as a blow to car dealers, who had seen registrations rise by 1.6 per cent in August after five consecutive months in which sales had fallen.
However, the number of motorcycles registered rose by 43.5 per cent in September to 448 units.
This steady increase has been attributed to the introduction of a new regulation last October, under which driving licence holders with two years of experience can ride 125cc bikes. The biggest increase in motorbike sales was in June, when 898 were registered. However, the number of scooters registered fell by 18 per cent to 416 units. In Spain as a whole, the number of vehicles of all types registered in September was 164'814, an increase of 13.26 per cent compared to the same month last year. Registrations in the first nine months of the year rose by 10.33 per cent to 1.76 million.
The increase in motorcycles was particularly outstanding: 19'863 units, 106.9 per cent more than September 2004.
The number of cars registered (as opposed to vans, lorries, buses and other vehicles) in September was 114'827 units, an increase of 5.42 per cent compared to the same month last year.