12/15/2008 11h09
Lower IPI pushes car sales upwards
Folha de S. Paulo - 12/15/2008
It was only 11 A.M. on Saturday, but the employees of the Itavema Dealership, located at Avenida Rudge, in São Paulo, were already celebrating: in two hours they had already sold six cars. "Our activity on the weekends is usually best after lunch, but I opened the store with clients at the door", affirms Ana Maria Junqueira, manager of Itavema, a Fiat Dealership. "The movement started increasing on Friday, with the news of the reduction of the IPI [Manufactured Goods Tax], and many people returned to close a deal." In the Great Sale held by GM, the activity increased nearly 30% in relation to the prior ones held in the four previous weekends. It was expected a consequent increase in the sales from 25% to 30%. In the Anhembi Brás Leme Dealership, also a GM dealer, the manager Flávio Cavalheiro assured his boss, on the phone, he would personally follow up the final sale dealings of the brand new cars. the consumers who could not take advantage of the new conditions, would, at least, go to the stores to take a look at the cars. "In October and November sales fell 55%", says Renato Silva, manager of Ford Highway Casa Verde. "As it happened in 98, the fall in the IPI will help. Who does not like to pay less?"
