The data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association shows that 6,204,990 new cars were registered in the EU in the first six months of the year. Apart from the UK all major markets faced a downturn compared to the first half of 2012, ranging from -4.9% in Spain to -8.1% in Germany, -10.3% in Italy and -11.2% in France. In contrast the UK was up 10.0%.

New passenger car registrations for June totalled 1,134,042 units, down by 5.6% compared to the same month last year and representing the lowest level recorded since 1996.

Again, the UK was the only major market to expand (+13.4%), while the Spanish slipped by 0.7% and the German (-4.7%), Italian (-5.5%) and French (-8.4%) contracted.