UPDATE 2-German car sales accelerate 6.1 percent in December (03/01/12)

Sales of new cars in Germany rose 6.1 per cent in December, taking the full year's growth to 8.8 per cent, according to national motor vehicle authority KBA.

Domestic manufacturers VW and BMW held onto their dominance of the market, accounting for 20 per cent and 11.2 per cent respectively.

Toyota and Kia expanded their market share in Germany, while Ford, Renault and Fiat saw theirs contract.

"Germany's car market was more stable in 2011 than many expected," automotive association VDA President Matthias Wissmann noted.

Car Sales Fall Sharply in France and Spain (03/01/11)

New car sales in France and Spain plummeted last month as fears in the eurozone continue to drive down demand for vehicles.

France registered 18 per cent fewer cars in December than the same month a year earlier, while Spain's auto market contracted by 16.9 per cent.

Italian new car sales down 15.3 pct in Dec-Federauto (02/01/12)

Italy's car market slipped sharply in December, with deliveries down 15.3 per cent to 111,211.

New car sales for the year stood at just under 1.75 million units, down 10.8 per cent from 2010.

Automakers see slower U.S. sales growth in 2012 (04/01/12)

US sales at Chrysler and Volkswagen rose by over a third in December, at 37 per cent and 36 per cent, respectively.

Ford saw gains of ten per cent while GM posted a near five per cent rise in sales in the final month of the year.
UPDATE 2-Japan Dec car sales jump, 2011 total still poor (05/01/12)

Car sales in Japan rose by more than 20 per cent for the third month in a row in December.

Automobile deliveries last month, excluding those of 660cc minivehicles, rose 23.5 per from a year earlier to 221,960 vehicles, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association revealed.

Sales of Toyota cars, excluding its luxury Lexus brand, were up 22 per cent, while Nissan saw deliveries rise by over 37 per cent.

Honda, which was the worst affected car maker by the Thai floods, reported a 6.3 per cent gain.

UK new car sales down 3.7 pct yy in Dec – SMMT (06/01/12)

New car sales in the UK fell by 3.7 per cent year-on-year in December to 119,188 vehicles, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

"Weak economic growth will make trading conditions tough in 2012," said SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt.

"Business and consumer confidence will be the key to a successful year, so it will be important that government delivers on its growth strategy and helps to resolve instability in the eurozone."

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