Sale of new cars has more than 1 million until April

In the wake of the Government's decision to maintain reduced rates of tax on industrialized products (IPI), the auto industry has closed this month with the best April in history, the best performance so far in 2013 and more than 1 million new cars got their plates in the year.
This time, the calendar played in favor of the industry, unlike the two previous months, more "short" due to the Easter and Carnival. Without the effect of holidays on weekdays, the automakers were once again have a "full month", with 22 days of sale.
Other than that, after the performance short of expectations in March, April was a warmer month for business. The daily average of plates issued, which was 13.4 thousand cars in March, rose to 14.1 million units this month, according to preliminary numbers.
As a result, even without considering the results of yesterday and today, the market has already surpassed the volumes recorded both last month as in the same period in 2012. Until last Friday, the April sales totaled 281.9 thousand cars and lightweight utilities, more than the 268.6 thousand units sold throughout the past month.
The number already exceeds, by far, the 245 thousand cars of April last year, another shorter month-also with two working days less-due to the Easter holiday that month. In addition, the volume has surpassed the 273 thousand units from April 2011, which was, until then, the best result for the month in history.
The market is going to, for the first time this year, closing above 300 thousand cars, confirming the highest volume since December last year, when 343.9 million light vehicles were got their plates in the fourth best performance of all time.
Francis Marion, President of the Fenabrave, the entity that houses the car dealers, says the result of this month was heavily influenced by sales to fleets, such as car rental companies and businesses. "Retail has not been as strong as well", says the Executive. Fleet sales tend to be the channel operated by automakers when the common consumer sales aren't going so well. However, by the discounts involved in this type of sale, profit margins are smaller.
In the plates issued since January, already add up to 1.07 million cars, 5% above the consolidated volume during the first four months of 2012. And that rate will be even bigger with the addition of licenses of yesterday and today. But some analysts estimate that the industry will not be able to keep the breath until the end of the year, noting that, starting in June, sales will be compared with some of the best results in history.
For Rodrigo Nishida, an analyst at LCA, 2013 will end with an advance of 1% in the formal license plates, which, despite the shy, growth would ensure a new record in sales of cars. "June, July and August of last year were exceptional months. Then, the growth rates that we have seen so far [in 2013] hardly will be repeated, "he predicts.
The Anfavea, entity of automakers in the country, is more optimistic and projects a growth of 3.5% to 4.5% of the market, including trucks and buses. The Association estimates point to sales of 3.93 million to 3.97 million vehicles in 2013.