Car Sales Drop 10% in Western Europe

Sales of passenger vehicles slid to 851,500 units in western Europe last month from 940,900 units in January 2011, according to LMC Automotive.

The research firm says January sales equate to an annual sales rate of 10.5 million vehicles compared with an annual pace of 11.8 million units a year earlier and 11.7 million units in December.

LMC predicts registrations in the region, which tumbled 8% to 11.76 million vehicles in 2012, will slide an additional 5% this year and remain virtually unchanged in 2014.