Car Sales Flatten in Europe

May new-car registrations advanced less than 1% across Europe last month, reaching 1.44 million units from 1.43 million a year ago, according to trade group ACEA.

Sales were mixed among the region’s largest markets. Volume fell in Germany (-6% to 305,100 units) and Italy (-3% to 199,100). Deliveries rose in the U.K. (+3% to 192,600 vehicles) and Spain (+7% to 135,500). Sales were flat in France at 191,700 units.

Big gainers among mass-market carmakers last month were Volkswagen (+4% to 363,100 units) and Renault (+7% to 164,400). PSA’s sales climbed 58% to 227,300 because of its acquisition of Opel in 2017, but year-on-year demand for its legacy brands advanced only 1% to 145,600 vehicles.

Ford’s sales rose 1% to 89,700 units in May. FCA’s volume was unchanged at 110,100 cars.

BMW and Daimler both reported fewer sales last month in spite of small gains for their minicar units. Daimler’s deliveries fell 6% to 85,900 units, dragged down by a 6% drop to 76,500 for its Mercedes-Benz brand. BMW Group’s volume also shrank 6%, to 85,000 units, as demand for BMW-brand cars and SUVs fell 8% to 66,200 units.

May sales by the five Asian-brand members of ACEA dipped 1% to 208,700 units, because of a 16% drop to 40,300 units by Nissan. Volume rose for the other four Asian carmakers: Toyota (+4% to 66,500 vehicles), Hyundai (+2% to 47,900), Kia (+3% to 43,000) and Honda (+5% to 11,100).