THE majority of European countries have posted an increase in new car sales so far this year, latest figures show. A total of 15 countries in the EU23 reported a rise in sales compared to the same period last year while eight noted a decline. Increases range from 0.1% in Austria to 45.4% in Latvia while decreases range from -0.1% in Belgium to -27.9% in Poland. A spokesman for the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), which produced the figures, said: ‘While the EU15 is back to a positive trend (+0.6%), EFTA countries (-2.1%) and new EU member states (-11.7%) continue to post losses, although reduced.’

Country		Jan-Sept 05		Jan-Sep 04		Variance
Austria		244,173		243,929		+0.1%
Belgium		387,235		387,599		-0.1%
Denmark		109,231		87,272		+25.2%
Finland		121,169		115,449		+5.0%
France		1,566,892		1,496,338		+4.7%
Germany		2,498,571		2,419,136		+3.3%
Greece		220,064		233,675		-5.8%
Ireland		165,247		147,251		+12.2%
Italy		1,725,465		1,766,897		-2.3%
Luxembourg		38,855		38,213		+1.7%
Netherlands		388,192		397,099		-2.2%
Portugal		158,288		150,842		+4.9%
Spain		1,172,329		1,143,873		+2.5%
Sweden		199,789		192,495		+3.8%
UK		1,971,880		2,079,956		-5.2%
European Union		10,967,380		10,900,024		+0.6%
Iceland		14,099		9,355		+50.7%
Norway		81,904		82,783		-1.1%
Switzerland		196,634		206,701		-4.9%
EFTA*		292,637		298,839		-2.1%
EU15+EFTA		11,260,017		11,198,863		+0.5%
Czech Republic		96,361		94,542		+1.9%
Estonia		14,851		12,651		+17.4%
Hungary		144,622		153,264		-5.6%
Latvia		11,755		8,086		+45.4%
Poland		184,287		255,644		-27.9%
Slovakia		42,044		41,112		+2.3%
Slovenia		46,770		49,102		-4.7%
EU new members		548,448		621,272		-11.7%
European Union		11,515,828		11,521,296		0.0
Total Europe		11,808,465		11,820,135		-0.1%
* European Free Trade Association