Car Sales Up in Spain and Italy, Down in France

December passenger vehicle sales jumped 21% in Spain and advanced 2% in Italy, according to government and auto industry trade groups. Demand dropped 7% in France.

France's CCFA says new-car registrations sagged to 163,400 units last month from 175,300 in December 2013. Full-year volume is expected to be slightly ahead of the 1.79 million cars sold in France in 2013.

In Spain, trade association ANFAC reports December sales of 73,400 units compared with 60,500 a year earlier. The group says the country's full-year sales were 855,300 compared with 722,700 in 2013. A continuing government-industry scrappage program contributed to demand.

In Italy, December sales of 91,500 compare with 89,700 in the same month of 2013, according to the government's transport ministry. It says full-year sales rose 4% to 1.36 million vehicles.