In January, the number of new car registrations
in the European Union rose for the fifth straight month. However, the
continent’s car market is far from buoyant as sales in the opening month of 2014
were the second lowest for a January since 2003.
The latest data was published today by the
European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA - - Association des
Constructeurs Europeens d'Áutomobiles).
There was a rise of 5.5% in registrations and a
total of 935,640 units were registered marking the second lowest result to date
for a month of January since ACEA began the series in 2003 with the enlarged EU.
In January 2014, most EU markets posted growth,
as did all the major ones, from +7.6% in the UK and Spain, to +7.2% in Germany,
+3.2% in Italy and +0.5% in France. Irish car sales were up 32.8% compared with
January 2013.
In 2013, sales skid to 11.85m vehicles for the
year. This came close to the historic low of 11.7m sales reached in 1995, when
the EU was much smaller.
The ACEA said Germany's Volkswagen brands rose
8.9%; French carmakers PSA Peugeot Citroën and Renault rose by 7.4%
and 13.4%.
Report [pdf]
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