European FY new car registrations up 0.7 pct yr-on-yr; Dec down 0.3 pct

European FY new car registrations up 0.7 pct yr-on-yr; Dec down 0.3 pct

	Published : Tue, 16 Jan 2007 08:42 By : Agencies Print this Story

BRUSSELS (AFX) - Full-year European new car registrations, comprising the EU member states, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, rose 0.7 pct and amounted to 15,364,997 units, said European automobile association Acea.

However, for December, registrations fell 0.3 pct to 1,068,553 units, impacted by two less working days compared to the same month last year.

For the full year, Italy and Germany ended with growth markets at 3.7 pct and 3.8 pct respectively. The UK, France and Spain saw their markets drop, by 3.9 pct, 3.3 pct and 2.0 pct respectively.

For December, only Germany out of the main markets posted a rise in numbers -- up 17.7 pct. The UK fell 14.7 pct, France dropped 11.0 pct and Spain fell 5.5 pct and Italy dipped 2.6 pct.

For December, among European brands, Volkswagen AG's new car registrations fell 1.9 pct, the PSA Group -- comprising Peugeot SA and Citroen -- fell 3.2 pct and Fiat SpA registrations increased 8.5 pct.

Renault SA new car registrations dropped sharply by 20.9 pct.

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) Group registrations soared 21.9 pct.

US brand Ford Motor Co saw an increase of 0.6 pct in new car registrations while those of peer General Motors Corp fell 3.4 pct. Those of DaimlerChrysler AG climbed 16.4 pct. Mercedes rose 21.5 pct.

Among Asian brands, Nissan Motor Co registrations soared 50.0 pct, Hyundai Motor Co registrations fell 13.7 pct, Mazda Motor Corp registrations rose by 9.6 pct, Honda Motor Co registrations gained 27.8 pct and Toyota Motor Corp registrations rose by 3.5 pct.

simon.zekaria@thomson.com

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