European car sales down 2.4% so far in 2010

Europe’s new car market continues to struggle with a continued fall in sales which has resulted in a year-to-date market decline of 2.4%, according to JATO Dynamics automotive intelligence.

The VW Polo and Renault Mégane are the only two models amongst the top ten best-selling cars that have continued to increase their sales both year-to-date and in the month of August. Perhaps surprisingly the VW Golf has suffered a particularly strong reversal of fortune which has seen its sales drop by 29.3% in August, making its sales decline one of the largest among the top sellers while the Fiat Punto suffered a 30.2% decline.

David Di Girolamo, Head of JATO Consult, says: “This month we have seen a continuation of the sales drop that can in part be apportioned to the removal of scrappage incentives in certain key markets. Generally, consumer confidence seems to be taking another dip, and this contrasts to the general feeling of growing optimism that prevailed earlier in the year. However, the market remains down a full 6% on the same period in 2008.”

Car Makers Premier League leaders Renault continue to see growth, with year-to-date sales up by 15.7%, thanks to strong sales for both the Clio and the Mégane. This growth has seen it replace Opel/Vauxhall in the top three over the last 12 months. Peugeot has also found a place nearer the top of table. The fact that the two French manufacturers both specialise in small cars, has helped benefit them during harder economic times. Unsurprisingly, VW still tops the charts, but with Golf sales in decline, its year-to-date figures are down 3.9%. Ford rounds off the top three places, down 8.7%.

The only top ten brand to have posted sales growth for the month of August is Audi, with a small increase of 1.4%, although that has not been quite enough to bring a positive effect on its overall 2010 figures, which sit a marginal 0.4% below 2009. Renault, Peugeot, Citroen and BMW are the only brands in the top 10 to be ‘up’ year-to-date, with increases of 15.7%, 5.7%, 1.6% and 5.8% respectively.

Sorce: JATO Dynamics