(MENAFN- The Peninsula) New car sales in Europe accelerated by 6.4 percent in September, the thirteenth month running of increases as a recovery in the market spreads across the continent, data released yesterday showed.
The European Automobile Manufacturers Association said "substantial growth prevailed in all major markets" in the EU in September, with nearly 1.24 million new cars sold.
Spain led the pack, with sales jumping by 26.2 percent against September 2013, thanks mainly to its "cash-for-clunkers" programme, although the country's economy is gradually recovering after six years of crisis.
For the January to September period, sales climbed 6.1 percent to 9.57 million vehicles.
Spain also led the recovery for the nine-month period among the big European economies with a 17.2 percent increase, followed by Britain where sales shot up by 9.1 percent.
Despite anaemic growth in their economies, car sales in Italy still rose by 3.6 percent, by 2.9 percent in Germany and 2.1 percent in France.
Vehicle sales are still far from pre-crisis levels, however, after suffering six years of declines and analysts warned stalling economic growth in Europe could still drag on the market.
Jean-Francois Belorgey, from EY, said there were "not many objective reasons (for the increase) except for the age of the fleet" because "the economic fundamentals have not suddenly improved in two months".
The 1.24 million vehicles sold in September 2014 is far off the 1.4 million sold in sold in September 2006. Volkswagen is extending its lead in European sales, with a 7.9 increase over the nine months to 2.4 million vehicles, expanding its market share to 25.2 percent from 24.8 percent.
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