Continuing the downward trend shown in the second quarter of 2010, new car registrations in the European Union recorded considerable percentage drops over the summer months, according to a report released on September 16 by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA). New registrations fell by 18.6 percent in July and by 12.9 percent in August, both on year-on-year basis, while in the first eight months of this year new car registrations in the EU totaled 9,021,703 units, or 3.5 percent less than over the same period a year ago.
In July, a double-digit contraction occurred in the main markets, ranging from 12.8 percent in France to 13.2 percent in the UK, 24.1 percent in Spain, 25.7 percent in Italy and 30.2 percent in Germany. Overall, 1,032,893 new cars were registered, or 18.6 percent less than in July last year.
In August, as in July, France (-7.9 percent), the UK (-17.5 percent), Italy (-19.3 percent), Spain (-23.8 percent) and Germany (-27.0 percent) all recorded considerable declines. Traditionally a month with lower registration levels, August recorded a total of 701,710 new car registrations (-12.9 percent).
In the January-August period of 2010, new car registrations across the EU reached 9,021,703 in number, or 3.5 percent less than in the first eight months of 2009. Of the most significant markets, France (+2.0 percent), the UK (+13.2 percent) and Spain (+21.9 percent) expanded, while Italy (-2.5 percent) and Germany (-28.7 percent) contracted. The steepest fall was noted in Bulgaria (-39.1 percent) and the highest increase in Ireland (+49.6 percent).
