Published on Sun, 12 Apr 2015 46 times viewed
According to industry data published, Western European auto
sales rose 10.7% in March as a regional recovery broadened to France.
Registrations last month increased to 1.56 million cars from 1.41 million a
year earlier, according to data and estimates compiled by consulting firm LMC
Automotive.
That lifted the annual selling rate to 13.15 million cars in March from 12.91
million the previous month.
Mr Jonathon Poskitt, LMC analyst, said that "We're finally seeing a strong
rebound in the market after years of underperformance."
Mr Poskitt said that the solid sales growth recorded in Europe's five biggest
markets was helped by a "backdrop of improving consumer confidence"
across the region.
The data, an aggregation of published registrations and projections for smaller
markets, show a regional gain powered by a belated upturn in France - where
registrations rose 9.3%, outpacing Germany's 9% advance.
The UK annualised selling rate also extended its climb to 2.69 million vehicles
in March, according to LMC calculations based on registrations published
earlier in the day, keeping it well ahead of third-ranked France's 1.98
million.
Spain, Italy and Portugal have also continued to record double-digit sales
growth as they recover from a steep demand collapse following the 2008
financial crisis.
Source : Reuters