Car Sales Drop in 5% in France, 11% in Italy

Registrations of new passenger vehicles in France fell to 157,900 units last month from 166,600 units in April 2012, according to local industry group CCFA.

The organization says the French car market appears to be stabilizing after the double-digit declines of previous months. But analysts note that demand slid nearly 10% when adjusted for one more selling day this April than a year earlier.

CCFA reports that volume in the country last month tumbled 12% for PSA, 3% for Renault Group, 17% for Ford and 19% for General Motors. But sales rose 4% for Volkswagen Group and 17% for Hyundai-Kia.

Italy's demand for new cars dropped to 116,200 units in April from 130,300 units a year earlier, according to the country's Transport Ministry. In the January-April period, new passenger vehicle registrations in Italy fell 12% to 471,800 units.

Auto dealer group Federauto says the country's car market is a "very sick patient." The organization is pressing Italy's new government for aid to the industry.