March Sales Drop 5% in Europe

Demand for new passenger vehicles in Europe fell to 1.84 million units last month from 1.94 million in March 2017, according to industry trade group ACEA.

Sales were mixed among the region’s top five markets. March deliveries increased in France (+2% to 231,100 units) and Spain (+2% to 128,200 vehicles). But volume shrank in the U.K. (-16% to 474,100 units), Germany (-3% to 347,400) and Italy (-6% to 213,700).

European sales by Volkswagen Group were unchanged at 415,200 units last month. Sales of PSA’s legacy brands dipped 1% to 179,500 units. But the group’s overall sales soared 60% to 289,300 cars, thanks to the contribution of Opel/Vauxhall, which was acquired from General Motors last August.

Deliveries for all other European brands declined in March. Sales ebbed for Renault (-3% to 177,400 units), Ford (-15% to 134,800) and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (-8% to 120,600). BMW and Daimler saw their group sales drop 6% to 122,600 units and 3% to 112,300 units, respectively.

Combined sales by the five Asian brands tracked by ACEA—Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia and Honda—declined 4% to 299,000 units in March.