Over the first nine months of 2017, demand for passenger cars remained positive in the EU and EFTA (Iceland, Norway and Switzerland), with more than 12m new vehicles registered -- an increase of 3.6% compared to the same period last year.
Car sales fell in September, dragged down by a 9.3% fall in the UK, Europe’s second largest auto market, according to the Brussels-based European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).
The British fall, amid a weak pound and stalled Brexit talks, was the sixth straight monthly decline and the first contraction for September since 2011.
Registrations since January gained, with Germany rising 2.2%, France up 3.9%, Italy jumping 9% and Spain climbing 6.8%.