Auto production rises in Spain

MADRID - Production at automotive plants in Spain rose 5.7 percent last month, compared to October 2008, the National Automobile Manufacturers Association, or Anfac, said.

Output during the month totalled 218,721 units, with private passenger vehicles accounting for 184,119 units, up 16.7 percent from October 2008.

Production, however, is down 14.5 percent year-to-date due to the fact that the domestic and European markets contracted sharply as the recession took hold early in the year.

Some 186,918 vehicles, or 85.4 percent of total production, were sold abroad as demand in other European economies recovered.

The strong sales of private passenger vehicles were a product of efforts by governments across Europe to stimulate the auto industry, Anfac said Thursday.

The automotive industry is one of the sectors most affected by the deep recession in Spain, where retail sales and construction have fallen sharply.

Several foreign automakers with operations in Spain, such as General Motors and Nissan, have announced plans to cut thousands of jobs.

–EFE