Auto Sales in Europe Dropped 8% Last Year

New-car registrations across Europe slumped to 12.53 million units in 2012 compared with 13.59 million units a year earlier, according to industry group ACEA. It predicts sales will fall an additional 5% in 2013.

The region's auto market ended the year with a 16% plunge to 838,400 units in December. Most major European countries posted sharp sales declines last month, including Germany (-16% to 204,300 vehicles), France (-15% to 160,300 units), Italy (-23% to 86,700 units) and Spain (-23% to 51,200 units).

Full-year volume shrank in all four countries. Demand dropped 3% to 3.08 million units in Germany, 14% to 1.90 million in France, 20% to 1.40 million in Italy and 13% to 699,600 units in Spain.

The U.K. was the exception in 2012. The country's new-vehicle registrations rose 5% to 2.04 million units last year, including a 4% advance to 123,600 units in December.

VW Group's 2012 sales across Europe slipped 1% to 3.11 million vehicles. Other major carmakers reported larger group declines in the region last year: PSA (-13% to 1.47 million vehicles), Renault (-19% to 1.05 million units), GM (-14% to 1.01 million), Ford (-13% to 939,400 units) and Fiat (-16% to 798,500 units).