Car Sales in Europe Skidded 9% in August

Retail deliveries of new cars and light trucks across Europe shrank 9% to 1.07 million units in August, trade group ACEA reports.

August sales declined in each of the region’s top five markets. Volume fell in Germany (-1% to 313,700 units), France (-14% to 129,300), the U.K. (-2% to 92,600), Italy (-3% to 88,900) and Spain (-31% to 74,500).

Among European carmakers, Ford posted a 2% gain to 60,000 units last month. But results dropped for all others. August sales fell for Volkswagen Group (-8% to 295,600 vehicles), PSA (-5% to 151,900), Renault (-24% to 108,600), Hyundai/Kia (-2% to 71,100) and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (-27% to 54,100).

Last month’s downturn erased a 1% gain to 1.33 million sales in July. ACEA reported those results today.

July’s advanced was due to year-on-year sales growth for PSA (+6% to 212,300 cars), Hyundai/Kia (+5% to 91,800), Daimler (+22% to 83,200), BMW (+22% to 77,200), Toyota (+12% to 69,900), Ford (+7% to 80,400) and Toyota (+12% to 69,900).

Car sales in Europe through the first nine months of 2019 fell 3% to 10.83 million units, according to ACEA.