ACEA

PASSENGER CARS: registrations 4.3% lower over three quarters

Brussels, 15/10/2010 - EU* September registrations of new cars decreased by 9.6% compared to the same month of last year, marking the sixth consecutive month of decline in demand for new cars this year. In absolute numbers, registrations amounted to 1,227,645 units. Over the three first quarters of 2010, registrations were 4.3% lower compared to the same period of 2009, totaling 10,251,140 vehicles.

In September, all major markets contracted, from -8.2% in France to -8.9% in the UK, -17.8% in Germany, -18.9% in Italy and -27.3% in Spain. In contrast, markets such as Ireland (+93.9) or Latvia (+79.6) expanded considerably, posting growth from very low levels in 2009 and 2008.

From January to September, results in the major markets were more diverse. While the French market remained stable (+0.8%) compared to the three first quarters of 2009, registrations in the UK (+7.8%) and Spain (+16.2%) were higher than in the previous year. Italy (-4.4%) and Germany (-27.5%), however, saw numbers decline. The steepest fall was recorded in Bulgaria (-37.8%) and the most important increase in Ireland (+52.3%).

* EU27, data for Cyprus and Malta unavailable

NB: Commencing with the January 2010 new passenger car registrations figures, the ACEA data sheets will provide new vehicle registrations in alphabetical order for the countries of the European Union, and no longer separate for Western-Europe (15) and new EU Member States (10)*. Results for the EFTA countries will continue to be reported separately. The monthly press releases will quote the ‘EU’ figures first, followed by the ‘total Europe’ figures, adding up the EU and EFTA figures.

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