European Car Sales Drop as Brexit Concerns Hurt U.K. Demand
- Region’s two biggest auto markets contracted in September
- Declines at Ford, former GM units Opel and Vauxhall exceed 10%
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European car sales fell in September for only the second monthly drop this year as concerns about Brexit among U.K. consumers more than offset gains in France, Italy and Spain.
Registrations declined 2 percent from a year earlier to 1.47 million vehicles, the Brussels-based European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, or ACEA, said Tuesday in a statement. Figures were dragged down by a 9.3 slide in the U.K., the region’s second-biggest market. Top-ranked Germany slumped 3.3 percent, burdened by one less business day than a year ago. Nine-month sales in the region rose 3.6 percent to 12 million autos.