In April, Spain produced 168,396 vehicles, marking a 10.3% drop from the same month a year earlier. Data from the Spanish Association of Automotive and Truck Manufacturers (Anfac) show that total production for January through April reached 718,850 units, down 14.5% from the first four months of 2021.
The decline isn’t just a single blip. The microchip shortage, coupled with supply issues for other components, continued to weigh on manufacturers operating in Spain. Added pressures include the war in Ukraine, inflation driving energy and raw material costs, and the broader slowdown in global demand. When compared with 2019, the year before the pandemic, the contraction is even more pronounced, with a cumulative loss of about 26%. Anfac notes that a full rebound in the automotive industry is unlikely before the early part of 2023.
Among the April figures, passenger cars accounted for 141,495 units, down 4.1% from the prior year. Commercial and industrial vehicles totaled 26,901 units, a 33.3% decrease. Electrified propulsion continues to gain traction, with 23,109 alternative power vehicles produced in April—an increase of 3.7% and representing 13.7% of total production. Within this category, electric and plug-in hybrid cars stand out: 21,977 units were produced in April, up 27.1% and representing 13.1% of total output. Year to date, this type of vehicle totals 81,824 units, up 21% compared with the prior year.
Exports are hurting
Export figures mirror the production trend: April shipments fell to 144,398 units, down 9.3%, bringing the year-to-date total to 609,369 units, a decline of 16.1%. The lack of stock suitable for export, driven by diminished production, has slowed the recovery in European markets where about seven in ten cars made in Spain are typically sold. Data from Anfac indicate that demand from key European destinations weakened across the board. France saw orders drop, Germany showed improvement, and Italy and Turkey faced significant declines, while the German market rose by nearly a quarter in April. These shifts highlight the ongoing challenge of aligning Spanish manufacturing output with export demand (Anfac data).