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PASSENGER CARS: EU registrations down by 1.6% in May

PASSENGER CARS: EU new car registrations down by 1.6% in May

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Please note that the Romanian cumulative figures for Jan - May 07/06 have been rectified!

EU new car registrations down by 1.6% in May

Brussels, 14/06/2007- New passenger car registrations in Europe* (EU25+EFTA) fell for a fourth consecutive month in May 2007. In total, 1,442,518 new cars were registered, –1.6% less than last year. New EU member states showed a constant upward trend (+11.1%), while Western Europe deepened its loss (–2.4%). The calendar effect seems to be limited since only few countries had one extra working day (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Hungary).

Amongst the biggest markets only Italy increased its new car registrations (+7.3%) which were enhanced by government scrapping incentives. Quite the opposite, Germany (–11.1%), France (–2.8%) and the UK (–2.2%) saw their markets downsize while the Spanish market was flat (–0.2%). Four other EU15 countries improved their results ranging from +17.6% in Ireland to +1.3% in the Netherlands. Overall, West European registrations remained sluggish after five first months of the year (–1.3%), with declining registrations in Germany (–9.6%), France (–2.4%) and Spain (–1.6%). Despite this month’s decrease, the UK overall five-month result was still better than last year (+2.2%). Following its fifth consecutive month of growth, Italy also kept its upward drift (+6%).

Just as in the preceding months, new EU member states strengthentheir result in May 2007 (+11.1%). Apart from Hungary (–20.1%), Slovakia (–9.4%) and the Czech Republic (–3%), all other countries posted high increases. Lithuania, Latvia and Romania performed best, posting +57.1%, +35.7% and +29.8% growths, respectively. Cumulative figures confirmed the new car registrations upward trend in the new EU member states (+12.5%).

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