March Sales in Europe Jump 10%

Registrations of new cars in the EU28 region surged to 1.49 million last month from 1.35 million in March 2013, industry group ACEA reports. Cumulative sales in January-March grew 8% to 3.35 million.

March results mark the seventh consecutive month of year-on-year sales growth. But ACEA notes that actual volume was the second-lowest total for the month since at least 2003.

Sales advanced in each of Europe's five largest national markets: the U.K (+18% to 464,800 units), Germany (+5% to 296,400), France (+9% to 179,900), Italy (+5% to 139,300) and Spain (+10% to 79,900).

Every full-line manufacturer posted gains in March. Sales rose at Volkswagen Group (+9% to 335,600 vehicles), PSA (+11% to 150,400), Renault (+30% to 130,500), Ford (+15% to 223,600), General Motors (+7% to 118,900) and Fiat (+5% to 83,200).

Europe's three largest luxury brands also reported sales hikes last month. Volume in the region rose 6% to 91,500 units for BMW, 8% to 80,000 for Audi and 7% to 68,800 for Mercedes-Benz. Sales improved for Jaguar (+14% to 5,800 units) but fell for Land Rover (-6% to 17,400).

Almost all Asian brands generated stronger sales in March, led by Nissan (+15% to 64,600), Toyota Group (+6% to 61,100), Hyundai (+6% to 46,400) and Kia (+9% to 39,500). The exception was Honda, where demand fell 5% to 21,100 vehicles last month.