The turnover of the car and motorcycle sector rose in the past quarter, but one subsector caused a negative outlier: the car importers. This is of course due to the delivery problems due to the worldwide chip shortage.
The car and motorcycle sector in the Netherlands closed the third quarter with a turnover increase of 5 percent, according to figures presented on Monday by Statistics Netherlands (CBS). With a turnover increase of 16.7 percent, the motorcycle sector was the best-performing subsector in the past quarter. Repair companies, which also include tire dealers, also had a good quarter with a 10.3 percent increase in turnover. The heavier commercial vehicle sector completes the top three with a turnover increase of 8.9 percent.
Importers of new passenger cars, however, achieved less turnover in the third quarter than in the previous quarter. Due to delivery problems caused by the global chip shortage, sales fell 7.4 percent compared to the same period a year earlier. The subsector was therefore a negative outlier, as the car and motorcycle sector as a whole was able to realize more turnover in the previous quarter.
Despite the positive figures, the mood among entrepreneurs in this sector is mainly negative, also compared to other sectors. In addition to the chip shortage, the car and motorcycle industry is struggling with a staff shortage. According to Statistics Netherlands, almost 23 percent of companies indicate that they have too few employees. The number of vacancies rose to approximately 5,300 in the third quarter. That is the largest number in 24 years. Compared to a year ago, the number of vacancies in the car industry has almost doubled.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl