The Automotive Quarterly report for December 2019 shows a mixed picture for the automotive indices, with the STOXX Global 3000 Auto up 3.9% and the STOXX Europe 600 Auto down 2% compared to the second quarter of 2019. Despite slight recovery from the 2018 low point, the automotive indices continue to lag behind general market values due to ongoing global trade tensions and resulting economic uncertainty, as well as high investments in future technologies. Losses for European automakers are also attributed to Brexit, the diesel scandal, and recession fears. However, average sales for the considered manufacturers have increased significantly (+7.3%) over the previous year, driven by strong Q3 growth despite negative news and cost-cutting programs. This extreme discrepancy is due to the sharp contrast between the automotive indices and the overall market, with the former experiencing strong growth in Q3.
