January 2011 European New Car Market

February 25, 2011

The January new car market in Europe may have been off just under 1% year on year but Volkswagen should be happy enough with its one-two perches at the top of the sales charts for the Golf and Polo, respectively.

"Despite signs of a recovery in the industry in many markets, particularly in central and eastern Europe, the continuing financial problems in markets such as Greece and the ending of many scrappage schemes in early 2010 means the total European new car market remains at a level below that of a year ago," UK analysts Jato said.

It said there were three key trends last month: European sales off 0.9% year on year; negative growth in Denmark, Great Britain, Greece, Italy and Spain and good results in central and eastern Europe.

Negative growth in Italy, Spain and Great Britain was due to the success of scrappage schemes in early 2010.

Jato researcher Gareth Hession said: “Despite entering 2011 with widespread economic uncertainty still prevailing, France has posted its best January figures since 2002 and Germany has bounced back to pre-scrappage levels.”