All EU auto markets posted declines of more than 10% in the first quarter, except the UK, according to a report released Wednesday by the European carmakers association ACEA.
New car registrations in the UK increased 7.4% in the first quarter, to 605,198 units, while France declined 14.6%, to 433,882 units, Italy dropped 13%, to 354,931 units, and Spain fell 11.5%, to 180,724 units.
In March alone, new car registrations in the EU declined for the 18th consecutive month. The decline was 10.2%, to 1.3 million. The Romanian market declined 32.2% in March, to 3,324 units.
The UK was the only large EU market to post growth in March, and its new car registrations increased 5.9%, to 394,806 units.
According to the ACEA, Germany posted the biggest decline in March, of over 17%, to 281,184 units, France fell 16.2%, to 165,829 units, Spain lost 13.9%, to 72,677 units, and Italy dropped 4.9%, to 132,020 units.