adminFRANKFURT. — European car sales picked up in July, driven mainly by increased business in the key west of the region, data compiled by the German sector federation VDA showed on Friday.In all, a total 981 300 new cars were sold in the 27 EU member states in July, 4,9 percent more than in the year-earlier month, VDA calculated.
Taking the seven months to July as a whole, however, car sales were still down, falling by 5,2 percent to 7,186 million units, VDA said.
The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association is not scheduled to publish its July figures until mid-September.
VDA calculated that car sales in western Europe increased by 4,4 percent to 954 300 units.
“Following April, that is the second month of growth this year,” said VDA chief Matthias Wissmann.
“The positive figures for the Western Europe car market in July is a good start for the expected stabilisation in the second half of this year,” Wissmann said.
“The nascent economic recovery in western Europe is clearly being reflected in the demand for cars.” — AFP.
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