VW still suffering from Dieselgate, European car sales up 9% in April

By Euronews with REUTER

Published on 13/05/2016 - 15:16

Volkswagen's share of the European car market remains depressed following its diesel emissions test-rigging scandal.

Volkswagen’s share of the European car market continues to suffer from its diesel emissions test-rigging scandal.

Even as overall group sales at Europe’s biggest carmaker, rose by 5.3 percent amid rebounding demand for its core brand, the VW group’s market share in the region slipped to 25.4 percent in April from 26.2 percent a year earlier.

Car sales in the European Union and European Free Trade Association rose 9.1 percent last month to 1.3 million, with nearly all manufacturers recording increases.

Passenger car registrations: +8.5% over four months; +9.1% in April | PRESS RELEASE: https://t.co/5R40TMUaCU pic.twitter.com/hzFxDh9Pww
— ACEA (@ACEA_eu) May 13, 2016

“The EU passenger car market posted strong results again, marking the 32nd consecutive month of growth,” the Association of European Carmakers (ACEA) said in a statement.

“This is the highest result in volume terms since April 2008, just before the economic crisis hit the automotive industry.”

European car sales returned to annual growth in 2014 after a six-year slump during which registrations fell to their lowest in decades.

Demand has been growing each month since as an improvement in consumer confidence, retail incentives and new product launches lured customers back to the showrooms.

Spain and Italy were the top two markets in terms of higher sales. In Spain registrations jumped 21.2 percent while in Italy they increased 11.5 percent.

April sales by marque