Car registrations in the EU27 markets plunged 55.1% in March as a result of lockdown measures seen in most markets.

Registrations were down more than half in March for the EU27

The fall – which compares to the 1,264,569 units registered in March 2019 and equates to 567,308 units – comes after most dealerships were closed for the second half of the month.

While data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) shows declines were seen in all 27 EU markets, Italy was hardest hit, with registrations falling by 85.4% to 28,326 new cars. France (-72.2%) and Spain (-69.3%) were also severely impacted.

And although Germany has had a lower Covid-19 death rate than other countries – it now says it’s got the pandemic under control – it still saw registrations fall by 37.7%.

Year-to-date figures, which were already down 7.5% in February, now show the toll of the pandemic, with a 25.6% decline for the first three months of the year. Significant downturns have been seen in all the major EU markets: Italy -35.5%, France -34.1%, Spain -31% and Germany -20.3%.