Europe’s Auto Sales Tumble 9%

Registrations of new passenger vehicles across Europe fell to 918,300 units last month from 1 million units in January 2012, according to carmaker group ACEA.

Sales in the EU slid 9% to 885,200 vehicles, the lowest January volume since ACEA began tracking the data in 1990.

Demand rose 12% to 143,600 vehicles in the U.K. last month. But registrations tumbled in most of the region's other major markets, including Germany (-9% to 192,100 units), France (-15% to 124,800 vehicles), Italy (-18% to 113,500 units) and Spain (-10% to 49,700 units).

Regionwide, the largest automakers posted January declines, including Volkswagen (-6% to 224,400 vehicles), PSA (-16% to 104,300 units), Renault (-6% to 77,600 units), General Motors (-5% to 70,000 units), Ford (-26% to 61,500 units) and Fiat (-12% to 61,000 units).

Luxury brands fared better last month, including BMW's namesake marque (+9% to 47,800 vehicles) and Daimler's Mercedes-Benz unit (+5% to 45,500 units).