December Car Sales Fell 5% in Europe

Registrations of new passenger cars in Europe rose 3% to 15.63 million units in 2017 in spite of a 5% drop to 1.14 million units in December, according to trade group ACEA.

Volumes shrank last month in Germany (-1% to 254,000 units), France, (-1% to 193,400), the U.K. (-5% to 152,500) and Italy (-3% to 121,100). December sales in Spain climbed 6% to 102,900 vehicles.

Among mass-market manufacturers, deliveries declined last month for Volkswagen, Renault and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. PSA’s sales jumped 61% year-on-year because of the company’s acquisition of Opel in August, or 6% when Opel’s contribution is excluded.

Full-year sales improved for Germany (+3% to 3.4 million vehicles), France (+5% to 2.1 million), Italy (+8% to 1.9 million) and Spain (+8% to 1.2 million). Volume fell 6% to 2.5 million vehicles for the U.K. in 2017.

ACEA reports that sales across Europe by mass-market carmakers last year advanced for VW (+2% to 3.7 million units), PSA (+28% to 1.9 million, or 5% to 1.5 million excluding Opel), Renault (+7% to 1.6 million) and FCA (+5% to 1.0 million). Ford’s sales were flat at 1 million.

BMW Group and Daimler sales last year climbed 1% to 1.04 million vehicles and 5% to 1.03 million, respectively.

Asian brands saw sales slide 3% to 212,100 units in December but grew 2% to 3.05 million for the full year.