Car Sales Up 5% in Europe

January new-vehicle registrations across the EU28 reached 967,800 units compared with 920,400 a year earlier, according to industry group ACEA.

It was the fifth consecutive month of year-on-year gain. But ACEA also notes that January's absolute volume was the second-lowest result for the month since 2003, when the group began tracking numbers for the expanded EU.

Last month's growth was led by advances in all five of the largest national markets: Germany (+7% to 206,000 vehicles), the U.K. (+8% to 154,600 units), France (+1% to 125,500), Italy (+3% to 117,800) and Spain (+8% to 53,400).

Volume also climbed for the region's five largest sellers: Volkswagen (+8% to 245,500 units), PSA (+7% to 111,600), Renault (+13% to 87,700) and Ford (+9% to 67,000).

January sales dropped for General Motors (-5% to 66,300 vehicles) and Fiat (-2% to 60,100).

Most of Europe's luxury brands posted improved year-on-year results for January with gains at BMW (+1% to 58,200 units), Audi (+9% to 54,400) and Mercedes-Benz (+1% to 46,000). Sales dropped for Land Rover (-2% to 9,600) and Jaguar (-10% to 1,900).