European car sales slump

New car registrations in Europe have dropped for the ninth month in a row as the war in Ukraine deepens supply-chain problems for carmakers.

The number of new vehicles registered in the European Union (EU), Britain and the European Free Trade Association during March fell 18.8 per cent compared to the total from the same month a year ago, according to figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).

The four key EU markets all recorded double-digit declines over the same period, with Spain down 30.2 per cent, Italy 29.7 per cent, France 19.5 per cent and Germany 17.5 per cent.

Those same countries also suffered decreases in sales over the first quarter of the year compared with the same three months of 2021.

Registration numbers are falling short of expectations after last year’s record low when a lack of semi-conductors idled a number of plants. 

Industry experts say the continuing slump points to a deepening supply-chain crisis for manufacturers.