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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| European car sales drop 5% in August | European car sales drop 5% in August |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| European car sales fell 5% in August compared to the same month last year according to the European Auto Manufacturers' Association. | |
| In total 653,872 new cars were registered in August. | In total 653,872 new cars were registered in August. |
| The UK was the only major market to show growth, up 10.5%. | The UK was the only major market to show growth, up 10.5%. |
| France's Peugeot saw the biggest decline, sales fell 18%, while Europe's biggest car maker, Volkswagen saw an 11% fall in sales and BMW posted a 9.9% rise in August. | France's Peugeot saw the biggest decline, sales fell 18%, while Europe's biggest car maker, Volkswagen saw an 11% fall in sales and BMW posted a 9.9% rise in August. |
| The figures relate to the 27 countries in the European Union plus those in the European Free Trade Association. | The figures relate to the 27 countries in the European Union plus those in the European Free Trade Association. |
| For the first 8 months of the year 7.84 million cars have been registered, the lowest figure for January to August since the Auto Association started to collect figures in 1990. | |
| 'Aggressive environment' | 'Aggressive environment' |
| Explaining the growth in the UK market Tim Urquhart, an auto analyst at IHS Automotive, said: "Overall confidence is improving, especially among private buyers, as a result of the positive recent economic data. | Explaining the growth in the UK market Tim Urquhart, an auto analyst at IHS Automotive, said: "Overall confidence is improving, especially among private buyers, as a result of the positive recent economic data. |
| "This bolstered confidence has combined with an ongoing very aggressive retail environment where dealers and manufacturers are offering extremely keen deals and incentives packages." | "This bolstered confidence has combined with an ongoing very aggressive retail environment where dealers and manufacturers are offering extremely keen deals and incentives packages." |
| He also said that low interest rates mean that individual and corporate car buyers are being offered attractive financing options. | He also said that low interest rates mean that individual and corporate car buyers are being offered attractive financing options. |
| As for the car makers, the latest figures show that luxury car makers like BMW are performing better than the mid-market brands like Peugeot and Volkswagen. | As for the car makers, the latest figures show that luxury car makers like BMW are performing better than the mid-market brands like Peugeot and Volkswagen. |
| "What we're seeing right now in the European car industry is a squeezed middle," Hyundai Europe chief Allan Rushforth said in a statement. | "What we're seeing right now in the European car industry is a squeezed middle," Hyundai Europe chief Allan Rushforth said in a statement. |
| "German premium brands are coming down through the market while Hyundai is moving up - making life very difficult for European volume brands rooted in the mainstream." | "German premium brands are coming down through the market while Hyundai is moving up - making life very difficult for European volume brands rooted in the mainstream." |
| Hyundai and its affiliate Kia have seen their sales fall 1.3% so far this year. | Hyundai and its affiliate Kia have seen their sales fall 1.3% so far this year. |