Europe’s Car Sales Rise 4%

Registrations of new cars in the EU28 climbed to 1.13 million in April from 1.08 million a year earlier, industry group ACEA reports.

Results were mostly up among the region's five largest markets. Sales fell 4% to 274,100 units in Germany. But that loss was more than offset by gains in the U.K. (8% to 178,800 units), France (6% to 167,000 units), Italy (2% to 119,100) and Spain (29% to 80,200).

Passenger car sales rose for Europe's top three mass-market carmakers. They grew 4% to 299,800 units at Volkswagen, 5% to 125,000 at PSA and 16% to 109,200 at Renault.

General Motors sales fell 6% to 76,900 vehicles last month. But Ford's volume rose 9% to 84,800, and Fiat advanced 2% to 69,500.

Audi led luxury brand sales in April with a volume of 67,500 units, up 1%. Mercedes rose 2% to 57,300. BMW gained 3% to 56,400. Land Rover jumped 30% to 9,600 SUVs, and Jaguar grew 12% to 1,900.

Car sales in the EU28 through the first four months of 2014 advanced 7% to 4.48 million units.