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UK car market survives as EU sales fall

The UK car market was the only one to grow in Europe, as sales on the continent fell for the twelfth consecutive month.

New car registrations for September in the EU dropped by 10.8% compared with the same month in 2011.

According to statistics from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), Britain was the only market to grow.

The German car market decreased by 10.9%, French figures fell 17.9%, Italian demand was down by 25.7%, and Spanish statistics plummeted like-for-like by 36.8%.

During the first nine months of the year, from January to September, the EU market contracted by 7.6% compared with 2011.

The UK avoided the European drive down in new car registrations, with 8.2% rises for the year.

Figures released last week by R.L. Polk & Co showed that across Western Europe, all of the top ten car manufacturers suffered in September, expect Audi.

Although Volkswagen’s growth figures shrank by 4.6%, it remained at the top of the leader board, while the likes of Ford dropped 12.3% last month, and growth for BMW fell by 17%.

The car industry has had a difficult few months after multiple manufacturers halted production at factories in the UK, including at Vauxhall’s two factories in Cheshire and Luton.

This has seemingly not had such a detrimental effect on the number of cars bought in UK, however Europe has suffered.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .