Sept. Sales Revive in Germany, Italy, Spain

September car sales surged in Germany, Italy and Spain relative to abnormally low volumes for the same month last year.

The aberration was caused by Europe’s switch last year to the tougher WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure) emission certifications on Sept. 1.

Carmakers offered deep discounts ahead of the shift to clear out suppliers of pre-WLTP models, thereby pulling sales forward from September. As a result, new-car sales across Europe surged 30% in August 2018, then plummeted 23% a month later, according to automotive trade group ACEA.

Now, deliveries are returning closer to seasonally normal levels. But last month’s results show the market has not fully recovered.

In Germany, September deliveries climbed 22% to 244,600 units. Volkswagen Group, whose year-ago sales were hampered by delays in certifying new models, saw sales last month more than quadruple for Porsche, jump 148% for Audi and double for VW brand cars. Yet Germany’s total volume last month fell short of the 288,000 vehicles sold in September 2017.

The deviation was similar in Italy last month. Sales, which plunged 25% to 125,000 units in September 2018, jumped 13% to 142,100 units last month. But that result failed to match the 167,000 cars sold in Italy in September 2017.

Similarly, new-car sales in Spain zoomed 18% to 81,800 units last month after falling 17% to 69,100 vehicles in September 2018, trade group ANFAC reports. But sales in September 2017 totaled 83,300 units.