New car sales across Europe rise in April

PanARMENIAN.Net - New car sales across Europe rose in April for the first time in 18 months, boosted by strong demand in the UK, according to BBC News.

Registrations rose 1.8% to 1.08 million in April, compared with a year ago. The last rise was in September 2011, said the industry association, ACEA.

Although the figure was an improvement on last year, in absolute numbers it was the third lowest total for April on record.

However, UK sales were 15% higher and were the best for April in five years. Without the UK figures, registrations would have recorded another fall.

Seasonal factors, in that most of Europe had two more selling days last month thanks to the Easter holiday falling in March this year, also flattered the figures.

Demand for new cars across Europe fell to a 17-year low last year, with most economies weak, or in recession, and unemployment hitting record highs.

For the first four months of the year, overall volumes were down 7%, compared with the same period a year ago.

Car manufacturers have seen sales of their smaller, mass-market models fall off, with lower income buyers unable to afford new cars in the economic downturn.

Peugeot Citroen saw both of its main brands lose sales, with Peugeot sales falling 7.5% and Citroen down 13%.

Fiat saw sales fall 4%, but its Alpha Romeo brand saw sales collapse by a third.

Seat, which is owned by Volkswagen, saw sales jump by 35%. Most of Seat's sales are in Spain, a country that saw car sales rise 10.8% despite the torpid state of its economy.

Regionally, results varied widely across markets.

As well as strong growth in the UK and Spain, Germany's sales rose by 3.8%. But in France sales fell by 5.3% and Italy saw a drop of 10.8% in registrations.