Car Sales in Europe Fall 9%

New-car deliveries across Europe dropped to 1.16 million units in November from 1.26 million in the same month last year, according to trade group ACEA.

Volume through the first 11 months of 2018 totaled 14.16 million units, up 1%.

November sale shrank in all five of Europe’s largest markets, led by German (-10% to 272,700 units) and France (-5% to 171,600). Year-on-year deliveries also fell in the U.K. (-3% to 158,600 cars), Italy (-6% to 147,000) and Spain (-13% to 91,100).

Except for Daimler (+3% to 82,900 vehicles), all major European carmakers posted monthly declines. Sales fell for Volkswagen Group (-11% to 275,000 units), PSA (-6% to 187,900), Renault (-16% to 117,300), Ford (-8% to 72,800) and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (-8% to 68,700).

BMW Group sales slid 3% to 85,700 vehicles, including a 3% drop to 66,800 units for BMW-brand models. Deliveries by rival Mercedes-Benz rose 4% to 74,800 cars. Demand for Audi cars plummeted 41% to 38,700 units.

November results among the five Asian brands who belong to ACEA fell 7% to 172,600 units. A gain by Toyota (+3% to 58,600 units) was offset by declines for Hyundai (-5% to 40,700), Kia (-1% to 36,900), Nissan (-28% to 27,400) and Honda (-14% to 9,000).