EU car registrations down nearly 7 percent on year

ERJ staff report (BC)

Brussels – According to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), year-on-year May demand for new passenger cars in the EU declined by 5.9 percent to just over 1 million – the lowest level recorded for a month of May since 1993, says the Association.

Five months into the year, just under 5.1 million new cars were registered in the region – 6.8 percent less than in the first five

months of 2012. In May, most major markets faced a year-on downturn, ranging from -2.6 percent in Spain to -8 percent in Italy, losses of 9.9 percent in Germany and 10.4 percent in France.

The UK continued to be the only country to post growth, at 11.0 percent. From January to May, Spain and Germany saw their market shrink by 5.8 percent and 8.8 percent

respectively, while Italy (-11.3 percent) and France (-11.9 percent) recorded double-digit declines. The UK expanded by 9.3 percent.