Car Sales Plunge in Italy, France, Spain; Dip in Germany

Auto registrations posted double-digit declines in three of the EU's four major markets last month, according to national reports.

Results by market include:

GERMANY: The country's auto market shrank 3% year on year to about 260,000 vehicles in November, industry group VDA reports.

VDA, which expects 2012 volume of 3.1 million vehicles, predicts German demand will slide to 3 million vehicles next year because of increasing headwinds from Europe's debt crisis.

ITALY: Sales tumbled 20% to 106,500 cars last month, according to the country's infrastructure and transportation ministry.

Italy's full-year volume is likely to sink to 1.4 million vehicles from 1.7 million units in 2011, says Bologna-based Centro Studi Promotor. But the automotive research group predicts demand will jump 11% to 1.55 million vehicles in 2013 because of rising consumer confidence after national elections next spring.

FRANCE: November registrations dropped 19% to 144,700 vehicles in November, according to carmaker organization CCFA. Group sales fell 34% at Renault, 23% at PSA, 29% at Nissan, 26% at General Motors and 21% at Ford.

CCFA previously forecast a 12% slide in the country's 2012 volume. But the group now expects a decline of as much as 15% to less than 1.9 million vehicles the lowest level in 15 years. French sales are likely to shrink by several percentage points next year, CCFA says.

SPAIN: November registrations tumbled 20% to 48,200 vehicles, according to industry group ANFAC. The association says that without the subsidy program enacted by Spain's government in October, sales would have plunged 35% last month.