Europe’s December Car Sales Rose 5%

Deliveries of passenger vehicles across Europe climbed to 997,200 units in December from 950,300 a year earlier, according to industry group ACEA.

Last month's volume improved in Germany (+7% to 229,700), the U.K. (+9% to 166,200), Italy (+2% to 91,500) and Spain (+21% to 73,400). Demand declined 7% to 163,400 units in France.

December results were positive for all of Europe's high-volume carmakers except Opel, whose sales slumped 5% to 68,600 units. Gains were posted by Volkswagen Group (+4% to 249,600), Renault (+4% to 103,400), PSA (+3% to 102,800) and Ford (+4% to 67,100).

Full-year sales across the region climbed 5% to 13 million units. Opel's volume shrank 5% to 924,300 vehicles. But volumes were up for the other mainstream producers: VW Group (+7% to 3.3 million), PSA (+4% to 1.4 million), Renault (+13% to 1.2 million) and Ford (+5% to 948,000).

Daimler outsold BMW in December by about 2,100 vehicles. But it trailed its rival 708,000 to 767,900 for the full year.