Data issued by LMC Automotive shows that car sales across Western Europe grew by 5.8% in September, suggesting that the modest recovery is continuing.

LMC said that the Seasonally Adjusted Annualised Rate (SAAR) for September sales was higher than the previous month’s result, standing at 12.2m units a year.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

The West European car market remains on course for a 4.5-5% improvement for 2014. For 2015, LMC expects the recovery in the region’s car market to continue. However, the LMC forecasters also said that for a sustained recovery over the coming years, the focus for growth must “shift away from the likes of the UK and Germany and towards some of the currently depressed markets in the region”.

The West European car market is forecast at 12.07m units in 2014, rising to 12.47m units in 2015. That is still way under the last peak of 14.8m units in 2007.

September was a key month in the UK (due to a registration plate change), where the month tends to account for around a third of the region’s volume; UK sales grew once again (+5.6%), though the pace of growth slowed.

The German market was up by 5.2% in September with car sales so far this year up by 2.9%. The selling rate stood at 3.05m units a year in September and LMC said it expects the German car market to finish at that level for the year.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

LMC noted that while there is some scope for additional expansion of the German car market over the next few years, it is “somewhat closer to our medium-term expectations than some of its southern European neighbours”.

LMC also said that after a couple of weaker months, the French car market put in a better performance in September. In Spain, an improving economic outlook, as well as ongoing government scrappage support, ensured further double-digit growth. The Italian market was also higher year-on-year, though the growth in the market is far from sure-footed, LMC cautioned.