Monthly Car Sales Fall in Germany, U.K., France

New-car registrations last month fell in three of Europe’s largest markets, according to local reports.

Sales in Germany fell 7% to 252,600 units last month, says the country’s KBA motor authority. The decline followed a 31% drop in September.

Analysts blame both reductions on disruptions caused by Europe’s shift to the new WLTP (world harmonized light-vehicle test procedure) emission certification protocol, which took effect on Sept. 1. Sales through the first 10 months of the year advanced 1% to 2.92 million cars.

The deadline pushed carmakers to offer deep discounts on remaining inventories of pre-WLTP cars, further distorting the market. Sales aren’t expected to fully stabilize across Europe until the end of this year.

Deliveries in the U.K. shrank 3% to 153,600 units in October because of WLTP and lingering consumer uncertainty about government policy on diesels, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reports. Volume in January-October dropped 7% to 2.06 million units year on year.

In France, October sales shrank 2% to 173,800, says industry trade group CCFA. Sales through the first 10 months grew 6% to 1.84 million vehicles.