Colombia vehicle sales in July climbed 27% from a year ago, according to data released Monday by industry group Comite Automotor.
Vehicle sales for July at the wholesale level totaled 26,799 units, far surpassing the 21,057 units sold in that month of 2010.
July’s sales, however, were slightly lower than June’s sales and last month saw the fewest vehicles sold since April. The 27% rise in July 2011 from July 2010 was the smallest year-on-year increase in 16 months in Colombia’s booming auto sector.
Last year was a record-breaker for vehicle sales in Colombia and 2011’s numbers are on pace to set another full-year record in a climate of heavy spending by consumers.
The sharp increase in consumer spending led Colombia’s central bank last month to revise upward its 2011 economic growth forecast to as much as 6.5%.
Comite Automotor’s statistics cover more than 90% of the vehicles sold in Colombia, including buses, private vehicles, taxis and trucks.
