German car sales rose 6.1 percent in December as consumers brushed off an uncertain economic environment and bought more compact cars, high-margin vans and luxury saloons. That helped secure growth of 8.8 percent for 2011, German motor vehicle authority KBA said on Tuesday.
"Germany's car market was more stable in 2011 than many expected," automotive association VDA President Matthias Wissmann said in a separate statement. Western Europe's car market is seen stagnating in 2012 at best, as consumer demand eases amid weaker economic growth, though data in Germany has raised some hopes that Europe's biggest economy may buck the trend.
Germany's Volkswagen and BMW retained leadership in their home market in 2011, with respective market share standing at 20 percent and 11.2 percent in December, according to KBA data. Shares of BMW rose to the top of the German blue chip index, gaining 4.4 percent, while Daimler was up 4 percent and Volkswagen traded 2.3 percent higher. The STOXX Europe 600 Automobiles & Parts was up 3 percent.
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