2.500 years later, the small and beautiful country of Greece is back in the center of the world. In ancient times the reason was the born of such advanced civilization able to influence our live 2,5 millennium later. Today the great attention around Greece is generated by the harsh financial and economic crisis.
Greece economy grew during the last twenty years driven by two sectors: tourism, accounting for 15% of GDP and the public sector, accounting for 40%. The country joined European Community in 1982 and the euro currency in 2001. In the last years, Greece was the European country which received major support by EU development plans. The 2004 Olympic Games organization boosted GDP as Public Deficit, but the 2008 global financial crisis and the lost of international credibility due to incorrect national budget reporting, started a negative circuit, where austerity programs are increasing deficit, unemployment (17% in 2011), national debts (in 2011 at 165% of GDP the world's 4th ). Actually the country is supported by international Institution under the agreement of a strong economic restructuring that's creating heavy social turbulences. The average pro capita GDP declined from $ 30.400 in 2009 to $ 27.600 in 2011 and continue to fall.
Pushed by several combined factors, in April the car market in Greece posted a robust 20.9% increase further recovering in the year-to-date performance, now down only 7.9% from year ago. A great sales momentum drove Toyota at market leadership.
Following the positive February, in March the Greek car market posted a second not negative month, performing flat from last year. However, first quarter sales dropped 15.3%. Opel underperformed and slipped in second overtaken by Fiat.
A bit sign of optimism arrived in February for the Greece car market as sales rose 7.6% from last year breaking a long deep decline. This month winners were Nissan, Hyundai, Kia and Seat, all recovering share, with Micra climbed in 3rd place.
The New Year started were the old ended and the Greece car market was down 34.5% from last year. Opel started fast recovering the market leadership ahead of Toyota and Volkswagen. Toyota Yaris was market leader.
Posting the 5th consecutive yearly decline, the Greece car market ended the 2012 down 40.1% from the previous year, the lowest level since 1988. Volkswagen beat Opel surging on top of the December ranking.
Following the previous month break, in November the Greece car market re-started its fall posting another impressive 47% drop. In the first 11 months, the market had lost 40.5% being the worst in Europe and in the World. Opel surged in the first position, oupacing Volkswagen.
October was a ray of sunshine for the Greek car market which posted the first year-on-year positive month after 9 consecutive deep declines. However, year-to-date sales were down 39.9%. Opel was back in the first position.
In September, the Greek car market posted the 9th drop in a row with 3.463 sales, down 48.5%. Year-to-date sales were 45.535, down 42.5% from last year. Toyota outpaced Opel and led the market with 11.4% of share.
"No news, bad news" from the Greek car market, which posted 3.821 sales in August, down 47% from last year, the eight year-on-year drop in a string. Year-to-date sales were 42.056, down 42.0% from last year. Citroen share at 7.1% was up 4.4 points.
March registrations in Greece at 4.901 were down 42.6% on previous year hence confirming February performance at -45.2%. The circulating car park is rapidly decreasing as Greece citizens can not further afford the car ownership cost and prefer to dismiss vehicles and use alternative transportations.