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The fall in new car registrations in the European Union accelerated in September, down 10.8% with 1,099,264 cars registered.
It was the twelth consecutive month of decline according to the carmaker trade body Acea.
The UK was the only market to expand up 8.2% while the EU’s biggest market Germany saw a 10.9% fall. This decline came desipte reports in Germany of dealers pre-registering cars to maintain volume targets.
France fell 17.9% and Italy 25.7%. Crisis hit Spain saw a 36.8% decline in sales for the month.
Year to date the EU market shrank by 7.6%, compared to the first nine months of 2011.
The UK saw registrations rise 4.3% but Germany saw registrations fall 1.8%. The market in Spain was down 11% while France fell 13.8% and Italy 20.5%.
The decline across Europe and more favourable currency rates has promoted carmakers to target the right hand drive UK market.
September’s UK sales came as a surprise as carmakers turned up the volume for the important plate change month. Motors analyst Mike Allen of Panmure Gordon said the figures were overstated.