European prices substantially different despite Euro - International Trends

Automotive Industries,  August, 2002  

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The European common currency, the Euro, has not lessened the disparity between car prices in European Union member countries.

Consumers continue to pay more in the U.K., Germany and Austria while prices are lower in Spain, Greece, Finland and Denmark, says a recent survey by the European Commission.

The largest difference in pricing was for a Fiat Seicento which cost E4,893 in Spain but was 63 percent more expensive at E7,975 in the U.K.

General Motors including Opel, Vauxhall and Saab; Fiat including Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo; Honda and Suzuki had the largest price differentials. BMW; Ford including Ford, Volvo and Land Rover and DaimlerChrysler had price differences of 15 percent or less.

"Our monitoring of price differentials and other indications have been regularly confirming that there is significant room for improving the functioning of the internal market in the more vehicle sector," say Mario Monti, EC competition commission.

Price differentials May 2002 *

Opel Corsa    18.1%
Renault Clio  19.5%
Peugeot 106   24.4%
VW Polo       22.6%
VW Golf       30.5%
Opel Astra    21.4%

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