THE sales performance of new cars across Europe for the year to date is mixed – with 12 countries posting an increase and 11 reporting a loss.

Figures produced by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) show growth ranged from +22.8% in Denmark to 0.2% in Finland. Losses ranged from -0.2% in Germany to -40.5% in Poland.

For the month of April, sales reached 1,357,474 units, a fall of 0.8% (1,369,086 units) on the same month the previous year.

Country		Jan-Apr 05		Jan-Apr 04		Variance
Austria		107,979		108,707		-0.7%
Belgium		196,034		210,938		-7.1%
Denmark		44,404		36,151		+22.8%
Finland		57,223		57,110		+0.2%
France		720,953		680,496		+5.9%
Germany		1,060,176		1,062,393		-0.2%
Greece		104,111		110,306		-5.6%
Ireland		105,289		92,815		+13.4%
Italy		836,157		8886,169		-5.6%
Luxembourg		19,934		19,725		+1.1%
Netherlands		191,687		197,429		-2.9%
Portugal		68,940		66,943		+3.0%
Spain		507,475		499,267		+1.6%
Sweden		85,274		84,381		+1.1%
UK		880,962		943,00		-6.6%
European Union (EU15)		4,986,598		5,055,838		-1.4%
Iceland		4,965		3,414		+45.4%
Norway		35,282		36,894		-4.4%
Switzerland		83,272		89,959		-7.4%
EFTA		123,519		130,267		-5.2%
EU15+EFTA		5,110,117		5,186,105		-1.5%
Czech Republic		40,512		40,699		-0.5%
Estonia		6,516		5,968		+9.2%
Hungary		59,692		67,056		-11.0%
Latvia		4,251		3,634		+17.0%
Lithuania		3,261		3,105		+5.0%
Poland		85,380		143,529		-40.5%
Slovakia		16,857		16,797		+0.4%
Slovenia		22,025		24,058		-8.5%
EU new members		238,494		304,846		-21.8%
European Union		5,225,092		5,360,684		-2.5%
Total Europe (EU+EFTA)		5,348,611		5,490,951		-2.6%