European car registrations fall again

Figures released by ACEA, the European association of automobile manufacturers, show that, in May, demand for new passenger cars in the EU was down (-8.7 per cent) for the eighth consecutive month. In total, 1,106,845 new cars were recorded in the region. May 2012 counted on average one working day less than May 2011.

Five months into the year, new registrations amounted to 5,442,326 units, or 7.7 per cent less than in the same period last year.

Source: ACEA

In May, most markets shrank, leading to an overall 8.7 per cent downturn. The major ones faced contractions ranging from 4.8 per cent in Germany to 8.2 per cent in Spain, 14.3 per cent in Italy and 16.2 per cent in France. Only the UK posted growth (+7.9 per cent).

From January to May, registrations slightly increased in two of the most significant markets, with the German stable at +0.3 per cent and the British recording +2.6 per cent. Elsewhere, demand dropped, by 7.3 per cent in Spain, and more severely in France (-17.2 per cent) and Italy (-18.9 per cent).