European car sales see rise in September
New models and aggressive discounting helped new car sales in
Europe post a 1.9 percent increase in September.
The Brussels-based European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) indicates that European car sales rose from 1.41 million units a year earlier to 1.44 million units in September 2005.
For the first nine months of the year, sales amounted to 11.81 million units, just 0.1 percent lower than the level in the same period of 2005.
Asian carmakers led the advance, with sales for South
Korea's Kia Motors shooting up nearly 40 percent year on year and helping to cement its role as the fastest-growing brand in
Europe.
On the other hand, higher unit sales do not mean higher profits for carmakers in a sector where chronic overcapacity keeps prices under pressure.