Total west European passenger car registrations amounted to 1,353,817 units in September 2004, representing a decrease of –0.6% (-0.7% in the EU) compared to the same month last year.

Spain (+6.2%) was the only market among the top five to show an increase, while France, Germany, Belgium, Finland and the Netherlands posted a fall in registrations.

Eight countries posted increases, ranging between 31% in Denmark and 2.6% in Ireland. Cumulative figures show increases in 10 countries, ranging from 23.9% in Denmark and 0.3% in the United Kingdom, and decreases in five countries, ranging from –2.5% in the Netherlands to –1.2% in France.

Registrations in the EFTA countries (Iceland, Norway and Switzerland) rose 3.7% in September 2004, in line with the strong trend shown this year (+6%), but fell significantly in the new EU member states (-18.8%), due essentially to the drop in Poland (-32.1%). The cumulative figure for the new EU Member States fell year on year by –0.9%.

For registrations by manufacturer for September and the nine months to September, click here.