MADRID, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Retail auto sales in Spain surged 10.9 percent year on year to 1,147,007 units in 2016, according to Spanish Association of Car and Truck Manufacturers (ANFAC) on Monday.
ANFAC attributed more sales to "improvement of the economic climate, the constant commercial efforts of showrooms and brands and the high level of tourist activity, which has had a positive reflection in the hire-car sector".
New cars sold to individuals gained only 6.7 percent, which was "worrying", said ANFAC Director of Communications Adolfo Randulfe.
The average age of cars on Spanish roads remains high at close to 12 years.
ANFAC predicts that this tendency "will continue until at least 2020" unless measures are taken, which would have negative effects on pollution and road safety.