EU new car sales tumble up to 37%

News agency Reuters is reporting another dismal month of car sales across Europe, as the figures for September in France, Italy and Spain plunged as much as 37% year-on-year.

Car executives gathered at the 2012 Paris Motor Show suggested recovery could take years rather than months, even if there are some mitigating circumstances for this particular September.

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That headline fall came in Spain, where an increase in sales tax last month prompted some pre-emptive purchasing in August, while the introduction of a new scrappage scheme incentive at the start of October has encouraged other buyers to hold off until this month.

In Italy, however, sales fell 25.7% – the worst performance since March this year, when a car-hauler’s strike had a significant impact; there was no strike to blame in September.

Meanwhile in France, sales fell 18% – the country’s 11th straight month of decline. The predicted overall slump for 2012 has been increased to 12% as a result, compared to the previously estimated 10% fall.

Moving beyond this general picture, here are some of the more interesting results for individual car manufacturers.

Renault fell 36% at home in France and a massive 51% in Spain – but proving just how tricky market conditions are in Spain, Volkswagen also dropped 44% there in September. Ford suffered significant losses, too: 40% in Spain, 35% in France.

On a more positive note, interest in the new 208 supermini has kept Peugeot buoyant in France, where it fell only 1%. This is in contrast to partner brand Citroen, which lost 10% in the same region.

Fiat, which dropped 32% in France, managed the difficulties in Spain relatively successfully with only a 13% fall – largely thanks to an 82% increase in sales of its Panda supermini.

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UK New car sales grow for 5th successive month

Europe’s best selling cars