Hyperdrive
Europe Car Sales Return to Growth After Painful Year of Declines
- Registrations rose 3.4% in August, Mercedes among gainers
- Respite may be short-lived due to inflation, rate concerns
A Mercedes-Benz showroom in Berlin.
Photographer: Krisztian Bocsi/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Europe’s new-car market returned to growth in August for the first gain in 13 months, though the respite may be short-lived as record inflation and an unprecedented energy crisis threaten to put off buyers.
Registrations rose 3.4% to 748,961 vehicles last month, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association said Friday. Germany’s Mercedes-Benz AG was among the best performers with a 16% jump from a year ago.