Statistics detailing the performance of the global automotive industry during the first half of the year show an almost uniformly depressed market.

While some encouragement has been drawn from emerging markets such as the Indian industry, and from the resilience of the Japanese market, where total vehicle sales remained at around the same level as the previous year, figures elsewhere offered a much harsher picture of the industry at present.

In the UK car sales for the first five months of 2003 were down 2.9 per cent year on year to just over 1,100,000 units, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The new car market in May was down 4.1 per cent to 200,059 units. 

Meanwhile, in Portugal sales plunged by more than 23 per cent in comparison to 2002, with the Portuguese Auto-Dealers Association (ACAP) revealing that new car registrations in Portugal were down 35 per cent for May 2003.

Market leader Renault reported January-May sales of around 12,500, compared with 14,500 sold in the first five months of 2002.