In October, contrasting performances in Western Europe (+15.8%) and the new EU Member States of Eastern Europe (-36.9%), resulted in an overall growth of the European new car market by 11.2% compared to a marked decrease (-14.4%) in October 2008. Irish sales were down 12.7% in the month and 62.4% in the 10 months of 2009.

European car sales were down 5% in the 10 months of 2010, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (French: Association des Constructeurs Européens d'Automobiles; abbreviated ACEA)

From January to October, registrations declined by 5%, amounting to 12,206,381 units. The month of October counted on average one working day less this year across the region. In Western Europe, new car registrations totaled 1,200,861 units in October, or 15.8% more than in October last year, mostly led by an increase in the major markets and supported by public-sponsored car scrappage schemes.

British new car registrations expanded by 31.6%, the Spanish by 26.4%, the German by 24.1%, the French by 20.3% and the Italian by 15.7%. Portugal (+3.5%) and Austria (+2.7%) also increased registrations.

Ten months into the year, results were down 3% with a total of 12,206,381 new vehicles registered. Only Germany (+25.9%), France (+4.2%) and Austria (+6.3%) recorded a plus. Demand for new cars decreased in Spain (-24.4%), the UK (-12.3%) and Italy (-3.9%). In the new EU Member States, new car registrations dropped by 36.9% in October. The Czech Republic was the only country to post growth (+8.8%). Elsewhere, the downturn ranged from 8.4% (Poland) to 81.6% (Latvia). From January to September, the decline was 29.6% in the region. Slovakia (+13.5%), the Czech Republic (+8.1%) and Poland (+0.6%) saw their markets expand while all others contracted sharply.

* EU27 + EFTA (European Free Trade Association), data for Cyprus and Malta unavailable