Car Sales Fall 7% in Europe

Passenger vehicle sales across Europe dropped from 1.6 million units in March 2011 to 1.5 million units last month the lowest March volume in 14 years, according to industry group ACEA.

March sales increased in Germany (3% to 339,100 units) and the U.K. (2% to 327,800 units). But volume fell in France (-23% to 197,800 units), Italy (-27% to 138,100) and Spain (-5% to 84,400).

In the first quarter of 2012, passenger-vehicle demand across Europe fell 7% to 3.1 million units. Among mass-market carmakers, Volkswagen posted the only year-over-year gain, a half percentage-point increase to 813,500 units.

Sales fell 17% to 407,800 units at PSA, 6% to 282,900 units at Ford and 12% to 277,700 units at General Motors. Volume plunged 23% to 282,000 units at Renault and 20% to 217,400 units at Fiat.