Euro sales dive again

EUROPEAN car sales have slumped for the 18th consecutive month, falling 10.2 percent compared with March last year.

According to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) figures, almost all major car-makers have suffered a downturn in new-car registrations, with French group PSA Peugeot Citroen reporting the greatest slump of 16 per cent.

Sales in Germany – Europe’s largest new-car market – fell by 17.1 per cent compared with the same month last year.

However, while European numbers may be in decline overall, certain regions showed more positive results.

Britain, for example, posted a resilient annual increase of 5.9 per cent over the 2012 calendar year, while a first-quarter increase in 2013 of 7.4 per cent should bolster optimism for the rest of the year.

A handful of other car-makers have avoided the downward trend, reporting healthy results.

Mercedes-Benz returned a modest rise of 0.6 percent, while Korean brand Kia enjoyed a 3.7 percent improvement.

British luxury marque Jaguar came in on top with a respectable 21.2 per cent increase.