September Car Sales Rebound in France

Registrations of new passenger vehicles in France climbed 17% to 173,400 units, industry trade group CCFA says.

Demand for diesel vehicles continued to fall, reducing diesel’s share of the French market to 34% from 40% in September 2018.

Last month’s sales throughout Europe compare with abnormally low volumes a year earlier, when the region’s new WLTP certification protocol took effect.

Carmakers heavily discounted pre-WLTP models ahead of the new regulation, thus triggering a surge in August registrations—and a slump in sales a month later. In France, demand last year surged 40% in August and fell 13% in September, according to regional trade association ACEA.