Global car and LCV sales rose 5.6% to 84.24 million units in 2016, helped by soaring demand in China, India and Europe.

JATO found that European car and LCV registrations totalled 17.1 million units in 2016.

The analysis from JATO Dynamics found that sales in China were up 14.2% on 2015. Although the expansion of the car purchase restrictions caused a slowdown in the market at the start of the year, demand recovered during H2 with consistent monthly double-digit growth.

European car and LCV registrations totalled 17.1 million units, up 7% on 2015, while India put in a strong performance with more than 3.3 million units sold as a result of growing prosperity and the greater availability of consumer credit.

Japanese car sales decreased by 1.6% compared to 2015, signalling a slowdown in the retraction of the industry when compared to the sharp fall of 9.5% seen in 2015.

Brazilian registrations saw a dramatic decline, with 500,000 less units than the previous year and down 45% on the record 3.63 million units posted in 2012.