Europe's Car Sales Drop 6%

Registrations of passenger vehicles across Europe fell to 1.08 million units in May from 1.15 million units a year earlier, according to Brussels-based industry group ACEA.

Deliveries in the EU slid 6% to 1.04 million vehicles last month, marking the lowest May sales in 20 years, the ACEA says.

Germany led the declines with an 11% tumble to 261,300 vehicles, followed by France (-10% to 148,500 units), Italy (-8% to 136,100 units) and Spain (-3% to 70,500 units). Only the U.K. shrugged off the gloom to post an 11% jump to 180,100 vehicles.

Nearly all major carmakers reported lower registrations across Europe in May, including Volkswagen (-3% to 275,600 vehicles), PSA (-13% to 117,900 units), Renault (-10% to 86,700 units), General Motors (-11% to 90,100 units), Ford (-1% to 85,400 units) and Fiat (-11% to 73,800 units.)

Sales fell 7% to 68,500 vehicles at BMW but rose 1% to 60,500 units at Daimler.

In the January-May period, passenger vehicle registrations across Europe slid 7% to 5.26 million units.