EU car registrations continue uptrend in September

EU car registrations continue uptrend in September

18 October 2011

Brussels -- In September, demand for new passenger cars was slightly up in the EU (+0.6 percent), totaling 1,231,147 units, according to new data from ACEA the EU federation of vehicle manufacturers. No calendar effect occurred as the month counted the same number of working days as in September 2010. Over nine months, 10,121,423 new cars were registered in the region, or 1.1 percent less than in the same period a year ago.

From January to September, performances were diverse across the region, leading to an overall 1.1 percent decline. Looking at the largest countries, the UK (-5.0 percent), Italy (-11.3 percent) and Spain (-20.7 percent) all saw their markets contract, while France remained stable (+0.2 percent), and Germany posted a double-digit growth (+10.8 percent).

September results showed a slight increase of 0.6 percent in new car registrations in the EU*, supported by German demand. Germany was the only major market to post growth (+8.1 percent) while the downturn ranged from 0.8 percent in the UK to 1.3 percent in Spain, 1.4 percent in France and 5.7 percent in Italy.