UK the Largest European Car Market in March

In March, new passenger car registrations in the EU (excluding Cyprus and Malta) were 10.8 per cent higher than in the same month of 2009, according to ACEA figures. Over the first quarter of 2010 registrations rose by 9.2 per cent compared to the first three months of last year, yet were still 9.4 per cent lower than in the initial quarter of 2008. Most major European markets recovered ground in comparison with early 2009, reflecting the ongoing effect of government incentive programmes. The UK, for example, accounted for almost 400,000 new cars, or 26.6 per cent more than in 2009 – thereby becoming the largest EU market during the month. In contrast, Germany – which in 2009 had successfully boosted registrations through its own scrappage scheme – saw registrations in this post scheme month shrink 26.6 per cent to 294,375 units.

Over the first quarter of the year, 3,671,871 new passenger cars were registered in the European Union, or 9.2 per cent more than in the same quarter a year ago. Sales in the UK totalled 611,548, 27.3 per cent more than in the first quarter of 2009. The only major market to record negative results was Germany, whose 670,410 new registrations were 22.8 per cent lower than a year ago.