BERLIN—New-car sales in major European countries grew 1.4% in
May, the slowest pace since the recovery of car demand kicked in
nearly two years ago as some of the region's biggest markets
struggled, according to data published Tuesday by European
automotive manufacturers.
New-car sales in the European Union and those in the European
Free Trade Association rose to 1.15 million vehicles in May, up
from 1.14 million a year earlier, according to the European
Automobile Manufacturers Association, known by its French initials
ACEA.
Of Europe's five largest car markets, new-car sales fell 6.7% in
Germany and 3.5% in France. Sales rose 2.4% in the United Kingdom,
14% in Spain and 10.8% in Italy.
Car makers shrugged off the weak performance in May, citing the
impact of public holidays in May and pointing to strong demand in
Spain, Italy, Portugal and Ireland, countries that were hit hard by
the eurozone debt crisis as evidence that the recovery of demand
for new cars in Europe remains intact.
Roelant de Waard, head of sales at Ford of Europe, Europe's
fourth-largest car maker by sales, said the industry was on track
to sell nearly 16 million cars and light trucks this year.
"That's a very positive development. Before the crisis we were
at 18 million—there's still a long way to go," he told The Wall
Street Journal. "But I don't see a cooling down."
Despite the weak performance in May, new-car sales in the main
European countries rose 6.7% to six million vehicles in the first
five months of the year, ACEA said.
Volkswagen AG, Europe's biggest car maker by sales saw a decline
in sales of every major brand except its sports car maker Porsche
AG. Overall, Volkswagen sales slipped to 295,662 vehicles, down 2%
from a year earlier.
New-car sales of PSA Group, which includes the Peugeot and
Citroë n brands, fell 5.2% to 117,122 vehicles, while Opel, the
European division of General Motors Co, saw sales decline 5% to
79,214 vehicles. Sales of Ford vehicles fell 0.6% to 81,492
vehicles.
FiatChrysler Automotive and Renault were the big gainers of the
other volume manufacturers in Europe. FCA sales rose 9% to 78,387
vehicles in May, driven higher by Jeep, whose sales more than
doubled to 7,558 vehicles.
Renault, which includes the Renault and Dacia brands, sold
108,551 new cars in May, an increase of 5.4%.
Write to William Boston at william.boston@wsj.com
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