LATEST figures suggest that the new cars sales market in Europe is stabilising, despite research earlier in the month from Jato revealing a 5% slide (Fleet News Europe, November 6).

Sales during October amounted to 1,179,024 units in October, representing a decrease of 0.3% compared to October last year.

National figures show increases in seven out of 15 countries, ranging from +5.4% in Luxembourg to +33.9% in Finland.

Spain was the best performer among the five bigger markets, with sales up 8.2%, and decreases ranged from –0.3% in Italy to –11.6% in the Netherlands and Denmark.

The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), which produced the figures, said: 'This basically flat result seems to point towards a stabilisation of the market, in line with most economic indicators.'