European car sales plunge in September

European sales of new cars plunged by 10.8 percent in September from a year earlier, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) said on Tuesday. In September, new passenger car registrations fell for the 12th consecutive month to 1.099 million units with a 17.9 percent retreat in France, a 25.7 drop in Italy and a 36.8 percent fall in Spain. Sales in Britain grew 8.2 percent. French manufacturer Renault was hit particularly hard in the period, ACEA said, with new sales dropping 29.5 percent. PSA Peugeot Citroen saw sales retreat 8.1 percent and Germany's Volkswagen dropped 8.0 percent. South Korean builders however continued their successful push into the European market with Hyundai sales up by 3.9 percent and KIA gaining 3.4 percent. Over the nine month period through September, car sales EU-wide (excluding Malta) fell by 7.6 percent with Italian sales plunging 20.5 percent. Sales of new units in Britain rose by 4.3 percent in the January-September period.