Car Sales Jump 16% in Europe

Sales of new passenger vehicles across Europe climbed 16% to 1.3 million in May, according to industry group ACEA.

Most of the region’s largest markets reported very strong gains last month. Deliveries jumped in Germany (+12% to 286,900 units), France (+22% to 175,800), Italy (+27% to 187,600) and Spain (+21% to113,700). Sales advanced only 3% to 203,600 units in the U.K.

Volkswagen Group reported a 9% increase in volume to 322,000 units. Results were hurt by a sluggish 4% gain to 321,900 units for the group’s namesake VW brand. Sales by the Audi and Skoda nameplates grew 20% to 75,100 vehicles and 14% to 59,200, respectively.

Most of Europe’s other high-volume producers outpaced the European market in May. Deliveries jumped for Renault Group (+28% to 139,000 units), PSA Group (+18% to 137,700), Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (+25% to 98,000) and Opel (+12% to 88,200). Ford’s sales expanded 8% to 87,800 vehicles.

BMW Group (+20% to 87,700 vehicles) outsold rival Daimler (+20% to 79,900) last month. But in the luxury segment, Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz brand narrowly prevailed with sales of 69,800 units, up 15%; BMW brand sales climbed 21% to 69,700.

ACEA says European demand for Japanese brands grew 13% to 216,000 unit in May.