European auto sales fall 10.5pc in February

PARIS: European auto sales plunged 10.5 percent in February from a year earlier to below the 800,000 unit mark, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association said on Tuesday.

The only country to experience sales growth in February was Britain, where new car registrations rose 7.9 percent. Sales in major markets Germany, France, Italy and Spain all slumped.

In February almost all auto companies operating on the continent suffered lower sales except Asian builders Hyundai, Mazda and Honda, though these groups command only a tiny slice of the market.

In 2012, European car sales hit their lowest point in 15 years to 12.05 million units.