BRUSSELS: New car registrations in the whole of Europe fell 2.6 per cent in October compared to the previous year period. Three major markets -- France, Spain and the U.K. -- posted declining numbers.
European automobile association ACEA said there were 1,164,697 registrations in Europe -- 23 of the 25 EU member-states, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland -- compared to 1,196,041 in the same period last year.
ACEA said with a number of working days that was substantially the same, this figure points out to uncertain market conditions. It cited a weak British economy, increasing fuel prices and strikes that crippled Spain as the possible causes for this downswing.
Among individual brands, Volkswagen AG's new car registrations grew 2.9 per cent, and DaimlerChrysler's by 5 per cent, while that of PSA Peugeot Citroen, Fiat SpA and Renault SA fell by 4 per cent, 5.3 per cent and 11.5 per cent respectively. General Motors group and Ford too lost 6.1 per cent and 1.6 per cent respectively. The world's largest premium car maker BMW took a beating with 8 per cent lower registrations.
ACEA said most Asian carmakers put up strong show with registrations for South Korea's Kia Motors going up nearly 18 per cent during the month and almost 53 per cent in the year to date. Suzuki Motor Corp.'s registrations went up by a third and Honda Motor Co Ltd gained 17.6 per cent, but Nissan lost by a third.
In terms of countries, sales in the U.K. declined 11 per cent to 152,497 cars, while in Spain there was 9.6 per cent decline, and in France 5.8 per cent.
In another study, the Frankfurt-based German Automobile Manufacturers Association, said Western European car sales, excluding Iceland and the 10 countries that joined the EU in May 2004, fell 2.4 per cent in October to 1.11 million vehicles.
Posted
on : Wed, 16 Nov 2005 20:20 GMT | General News
By : Paula Jenkins
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