Spanish car industry back in the driving seat

THE Spanish car manufacturing industry has continued to show signs of recovery – despite the economy registering a drop in overall manufacturing for November.

The manufacturing industry had reported 0.8% growth in September – the first positive figure to emerge in a year, according to the National Statistics Institute.

But although industrial production dropped by 0.8% in October, compared to the same month last year, the fall is lower than in previous years.

And the motor manufacturing industry is already showing signs of recovery, which is up 30.7% since 2012 – the largest increase in three years.

Sales to private customers rose 33% in November and accumulated a rise of 16.3% in the full year.

Experts put the increase down to the industry’s success in the export market.