European Car Sales Rise to 10-Year High on Peugeot, Renault SUVs

European car sales reached a 10-year high last year as widening economic growth boosted consumer confidence, with SUVs from French manufacturers Peugeot and Renault, Italian competitor Alfa Romeo and Japanese rival Toyota propelling demand.

Registrations in 2017 increased 3.3 percent to 15.6 million vehicles, the Brussels-based European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, or ACEA, said Wednesday in a statement. The figure was the highest since a record 16 million autos were delivered in 2007. December sales dropped 4.8 percent from a year earlier to 1.14 million vehicles, hurt by extra days off for Christmas versus the 2016 period.