NEW car sales across Europe have increased by more than 2% in the first two months of the year, compared to the same period last year.

Sales amounted to 2,340,384 units in January and February, up from 2,284,021 units during the first two months of last year. This equates to an increase of 2.5%.

The biggest gainers included Latvia, where sales were up by 48.1%, and Iceland, which posted an increase of 31.5%.

Among the top five biggest European countries, France, Italy and Germany posted increases but sales were down in Spain and the UK, according to figures produced by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).

		Jan-Feb 06		Jan-Feb 05		% variance
Austria		42,953		42,045		+2.2%
Belgium		112,682		96,129		+17.2%
Denmark		21,613		19,736		+9.5%
Finland		30,061		29,351		+2.4%
France		329,126		323,758		+1.7%
Germany		439,071		421,391		+4.2%
Greece		50,990		52,222		-2.4%
Ireland		68,617		62,945		+9.0%
Italy		447,917		412,019		+8.7%
Luxembourg		8,392		8,681		-3.3%
Netherlands		109,045		105,104		+3.7%
Portugal		31,052		32,061		-3.1%
Spain		221,250		224,350		-1.4%
Sweden		35,696		35,620		+0.2%
UK		233,359		258,566		-9.7%
EU15		2,181,824		2,123,978		+2.7%
Iceland		3,162		2,405		+31.5%
Norway		14,803		15,700		-5.7%
Switzerland		35,870		34,953		+2.6%
EFTA		53,835		53,058		+1.5%
EU15+EFTA		2,235,659		2,177,036		+2.7%
Czech Republic		16,283		16,787		-3.0%
Estonia		3,145		2,666		+18.0%
Hungary		27,015		24,816		+8.9%
Latvia		2,718		1,835		+48.1%
Lithunania		1,698		1,536		+10.5%
Poland		36,624		42,054		-12.9%
Slovakia		7,587		7,014		+8.2%
Slovenia		9,6455		10,277		-6.1%
EU new members		104,725		106,985		-2.1%
European Union		2,286,549		2,230,963		+2.5%
Total Europe (EU and EFTA)		2,340,384		2,284,021