Europe new car sales down 7.1% in January
(BRUSSELS) - New car sales across Europe fell 7.1 percent in January compared to the year earlier, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association said Thursday.
The total number of new cars sold in 26 of the 27 European Union states minus Malta, where no data was given, was 968,769 in the month.
Sales in France slumped 20.7 percent, Italy was down 16.9 percent and Portugal tumbled a whopping 47.4 percent.
The key German market saw a slight drop of 0.4 percent, Britain was flat and Spain logged a rise of 2.5 percent.
The big winners among brands were South Korea's Kia and Hyundai, up 30.6 percent and 17.9 percent respectively, with the French and Italian champions Renault, Fiat and PSA Peugot Citroen groups losing 25.2 percent, 16.2 percent and 14.9 percent respectively.
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