LATEST figures show that sales of new cars across Europe during 2005 were mixed, with 13 countries posting an increase and 10 ending the year with losses.

Among the five main markets of the EU-23, France (+2.7%), Germany (+1.6%) and Spain (+0.8%) experienced growth for the year but Italy (-1.3%) and the UK (-5%) reported losses.

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) also released figures for the month of December, that showed sales fell by 3.9% compared to December 2004. It said the drop was partly influenced by a smaller number of working days in most countries during 2005 than the previous year. But the declining sales also indicate the sluggish market conditions of the last quarter of the year, the ACEA added.

Country		Jan-Dec 05		Jan-Dec 04		Variance
Austria		307,915		311,292		-1.1%
Belgium		480,088		484,757		-1.0%
Denmark		146,166		121,484		+20.3%
Finland		148,161		142,642		+3.9%
France		2,067,818		2,013,709		+2.7%
Germany		3,319,259		3,266,825		+1.6%
Greece		269,728		289,691		-6.9%
Ireland		171,732		154,136		+11.4%
Italy		2,234,174		2,264,688		-1.3%
Luxembourg		48,517		48,234		+0.6%
Netherlands		465,196		483,745		-3.8%
Portugal		203,443		197,584		+3.0%
Spain		1,528,849		1,517,286		+0.8%
Sweden		274,301		264,246		+3.8%
UK		2,439,717		2,567,269		-5.0%
European Union		14,105,064		14,127,588		-0.2%
Iceland		18,211		11,968		+52.2%
Norway		109,907		115,645		-5.0%
Switzerland		262,609		269,385		-2.5%
EFTA		390,727		396,998		-1.6%
EU15+EFTA		14,495,791		14,524,586		-0.2%
Czech Republic		127,376		125,768		+1.3%
Estonia		19,398		16,436		+18.0%
Hungary		201,413		207,055		-2.7%
Latvia		16,680		11,256		+48.2%
Lithuania		10,520		9,493		+10.8%
Poland		235,521		318,093		-26.0%
Slovakia		56,916		57,430		-0.9%
Slovenia		59,324		62,002		-4.3%
EU new members		727,148		807,533		-10.0%
European Union		14,832,212		14,935,121		-0.7%
Total Europe		15,222,939		15,332,119		-0.7%