December Car Sales Fall 7% in Germany

New-car registrations in Germany sagged 7% to 237,100 units last month, according to KBA, the country’s motor vehicle authority.

Sales were hurt by the continuing struggles of carmakers—especially Volkswagen Group—to complete emission certification tests under the European Union’s new WLTP (worldwide harmonized light vehicle test procedure).

Full-year sales were flat at 3.44 million units. KBA says diesel’s market share slid to 32% in 2018 from 39% in the previous year as diesel sales plunged to their lowest level in 18 years.