November Car Sales Climbed 14% in Europe

Deliveries of new passenger vehicles across Europe rose to 1.12 million in November from 989,800 in the same month last year, industry group ACEA reports.

Results marked the 27th consecutive month of expansion for the European auto market. Sales through the first 11 months of 2015 across the region totaled 13.05 million, up 9%.

The 14% increase was led by gains in all five of Europe’s biggest markets: Germany (+9% to 272,400 units), U.K. (+4% to 178,900), France (+11% to 150,300), Italy (+24% to 134,000) and Spain (+25% to 81,700).

Market leader Volkswagen Group posted a relatively modest 4% gain to 275,900 sales in November. All other major producers reported double-digit group increases: PSA (+13% to 114,500 vehicles), Renault (+15% to 108,200), Ford (+21% to 77,900), Opel (+18% to 75,700) and FCA (+18% to 68,500).

BMW outsold rival Daimler last month. On the group level, BMW-Mini surpassed Daimler-Smart by 76,500 (+11%) to 70,200 (+23%). But Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz brand triumphed over BMW brand sales 62,500 to 61,000.

Combined sales by Asian marques grew 13% to 206,500 units in November, according to ACEA. Results were led by the segment’s top volume producers: Toyota (+5% to 47,500 vehicles), Nissan (+6% to 39,100), Hyundai (+12% to 35,900) and Kia (+9% to 30,600).

But smaller-volume Asian brands all contributed double-digit gains last month. They included Mazda (+39% to17,000), Suzuki (+32% to 14,500), Honda (+25% to 11,300) and Mitsubishi (+19% to 10,600).