Car Sales Post Double-Digit Declines in France, Italy, Spain

Registrations of new vehicles in France tumbled 12% year on year to 143,400 units last month, says the industry group CCFA.

February volume in the country equates to an annual sales rate of 1.82 million vehicles, an improvement from January's pace of 1.65 million vehicles.

Ford sales in France plunged 33% to 9,300 vehicles last month. Demand also slid at PSA (-16% to 41,000 units), Renault (-11% to 35,200 units) and Volkswagen Group (-8% to 20,100 units).

CCFA, which began 2013 by predicting stable sales this year, now forecasts a 5% drop from 160,300 units in 2012.

In Italy, auto registrations fell 14% to 108,400 vehicles in February, according to the country's transport ministry. Fiat's share of Italy's car market shrank to 28.5% last month from 30.1% in January.

Spain's vehicle sales slid 10% to 58,400 units in February, carmaker group ANFAC reports.