Automotive Sector Is More Optimistic For 2003

ANKARA - Automotive sector is more optimistic for 2003 following the shrinkage in the market in 2002.
Otokoc Director General Cenk Cimen said on Friday that they envisaged around 220,000 sales in automotive market in 2003.
Cimen told the A.A correspondent that the sector which began with decrease in the sales to the year had some positive signals toward May and added that however the sales started again to decrease after May.
Stating that they envisaged that the sales in the automotive market would remain at 160-165 thousand for 2002, Cimen said that the number was 203 thousand in 2001 and 643 thousand in 2000.
He said that the sales of automobiles were expected to be around 90 thousand in 2002 and noted that the sales of the automobiles was about 132 thousand in 2001.
Cimen said that the sales of the vehicles for commercial purposes including, Doblo, Transit Connect and Partner, which were 25,500 in 2001, were expected to reach about 26 thousand in 2002.
Stressing that the shrinkage in the automotive sector stems from decrease in purchase of automobiles, Cimen said that it will be difficult to predict the situation of the sector due to the early elections, a possible operation against Iraq and the progress in European Union (EU) path in the coming period.
Cimen said that they envisage around 200-220,000 sales in automotive market in 2003, adding that the important point is the economic growth next year. He said that the growth will directly affect especially the purchase of vehicles for commercial purposes.
Noting that there is an important potential in the market, Cimen said that they are expecting a gradual recovery in the market instead of a sudden jump. He added that a possible operation against Iraq can affect the market for a short time but it will not be influential in the long run.