Swedish 2002 Car Sales Up

STOCKHOLM, Jan 2, 2003; Reuters reported that new private car registrations in Sweden increased 3.2 percent year-on-year in 2002 to 254,417 units, the car retailers association Bil Sweden said on Thursday.

Car sales account for a significant chunk of Swedish private consumption, which makes up approximately half of Sweden's gross domestic product (GDP).

In December, new private car registrations fell 3.9 percent year-on-year to 20,815 units, Bil Sweden said.

Registrations of heavy trucks -- over 16 tonnes -- increased 16.4 percent year-on-year in December but fell 6.6 percent in full-year 2002 to 3,978 units, Bil Sweden said.