European October Auto Sales Drop 4.6% on Decline at Renault

European auto sales declined 4.6 percent in October, with Renault SA and General Motors Co. reporting the largest drops, as a recession in countries using the euro discouraged consumers from making large purchases.

Registrations in the 27-member European Union plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland fell to 998,899 vehicles from 1.05 million a year earlier, the Brussels-based European Automobile Manufacturers Association, or ACEA, said today. Ten-month sales decreased 6.9 percent to 10.7 million cars.