By Gokhan Ergocun
ISTANBUL (AA) - New car registrations in the European Union were slightly up by 0.2% in July on a yearly basis, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) revealed on Thursday.
Among four major European markets, while Italy and Spain saw increases in car sales with 4.7% and 3.4%, respectively, French market narrowed by 2.3% and German market by 2.1%, year-on-year in July.
During the first-seven month period, car registrations rose by 3.9% on a yearly basis in the 27-member union, reaching over 6.5 million units.
"The bloc’s largest markets all showed positive but modest performance, with Spain (+5.6%), Italy (+5.2%), Germany (+4.3%), and France (+2.2%) all recording growth," ACEA said.
In July, battery-powered cars' share dropped to 12.1% from 13.5% in overall registrations, while hybrid's share reached 32% from 25.5% over the same period.
"The combined share of petrol and diesel cars fell to 46%, down from 50%," ACEA added.