Car registrations grow in July and August

19 September 2018

The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) has released its EU sales figures for July and August 2018.

Passenger car registrations across the EU from January-August this year grew by 6.1% to reach 10.8 million units, ′largely boosted by the unusually strong performance during the summer months’ according to the ACEA.

In the first eight-months of this year demand went up in Spain (+14.6%), France (+8.9%) and Germany (+6.4%), while car sales remained stable in Italy (″0.1%) and contracted in the United Kingdom (″4.2%).

July results

In July the demand for new passenger cars in the EU grew by 10.5%., with almost 1.3 million vehicles being registered in the month.

All of the EU Big 5 markets recorded growth, with Spain (+19.3%), France (+18.9%) and Germany (+12.3%) posting the highest increases, followed by more modest figures from Italy (+4.7%) and the UK (+1.2%).

The figures showed a decline in sales on the previous month. The hardest hit brands for July compared to the same month last year were Daimler (-14.3%) and Jaguar Land Rover Group. 

August results

Seeing massive growth from last year was August, typically the quieter month of the year, It saw a 31.2% increase in passenger car demand, which translates to 1.1 million vehicles.

All of the big 5 saw large increases in passenger car registrations, topped by Spain (+48.7%) and followed closely by France (+40%), Germany (+24.7%) and UK (+23.1) Italy (+9.5).

ACEA states that the: ′most likely explanation for this exceptional growth, is the introduction of the new WLTP test that applies to all new car registrations from 1 September 2018.’

′Hence, some auto manufacturers offered pre″WLTP vehicles at extremely attractive prices. As a result, double″digit percentage gains were registered in many EU countries, as well as in the five major markets.’

At the top of the OEM charts is Renault Group, seeing a rise of 57.8% in registrations.Daimler was the only manufacturer to see a decline in registrations across the EU year-on-year in August, dropping -2.8%.