Sales of new cars in Europe fell by 4.1 percent in June over 12 months to a total of 1,489,561 vehicles, trade data showed on Friday. In the first six months of the year, sales increased by 1.3 percent from the equivalent figure last year to 8,323,033 units, the figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association showed.
The data covers the 25 members of the European Union, minus Cyprus and Malta, but also Norway, Switzerland and Iceland. In western Europe comprising the 15 EU countries before enlargement into eastern Europe, plus Norway, Switzerland and Iceland, sales also fell by 4.0 percent in June on a 12-month comparison, and increased by 1.3 percent in the first six months of the year.
The association said that this marked fall showed that market conditions remained uncertain. However, it also noted that in most of the countries concerned there had been one or two working days fewer in June this year than in June last year.
In the five main markets, only sales in France had shown a "marginal" increase of 0.2 percent. Sales in Italy had fallen by 12.6 percent, in Germany by 4.6 percent, in Britain by 3.6 percent and in Spain by 3.5 percent.
The big fall in Italy reflected a distortion of high sales in June 2005 following a strike in May which had affected transportation companies delivering new vehicles.