German Auto Sales Climb 4%

Registrations of new passenger vehicles in Germany grew to 284,400 vehicles last month compared with 273,900 units in April 2012, according to federal auto bureau KBA.

April marked the first month of year-over-year increase since October and the largest monthly increase since December 2011. The agency says private sales accounted for nearly 40% of the market in April. Trade groups say this could signal a return of consumer confidence.

The market leading Volkswagen brand boosted sales 4%. Opel and Ford reported gains of 7% and 6%, respectively.

In the January-April period, auto sales fell 9% to 960,000 vehicles in Germany.

National carmaker group VDA has lowered its forecast for 2013 sales in Germany to 2.9 million-3 million vehicles compared its earlier outlook of more than 3 million units. Deliveries in 2012 totaled 3.1 million vehicles.

VDA also reports that auto exports from Germany in April climbed 11% year on year to 367,300 vehicles. But exports for the first four months of 2013 are down 4% to 1.4 million units because of weak demand in other European markets.