Total Western European car sales reached 1.7 million units in March, an increase of 4.1% in comparison with the same month last year.

First quarter accumulated sales across the region reached 3.95 million units, a rise of 3% year-on-year, according to figures from CSM Worldwide, the automotive forecasting company.

The UK’s car sales figures show they have clearly slowed since the second quarter of 2004, posting negative growth rates over eight consecutive quarters following four years of consecutive growth.

"Car sales slumped by 4.6% in the first quarter of 2006, following an acceptable March that commenced the upgrade of new registration plates. The full-year selling rate projects the market toward 2.24 million units, down 8.3% vs. 2005," said CSM.

To download CSM’s excel spreadsheet of Western European sales for March click here.