German car sales decline 30% in January due to coronavirus

New passenger car registrations in Germany declined more than 30% in January to around 170,000 vehicles, an industry source informed Reuters on Wednesday.

Car dealerships have been hit following the second lockdown amid the coronavirus crisis in Germany, with non-essential stores closed since mid-December, and by tax breaks for customers running out at the end of 2020.

New car registrations in December had been up by nearly 10%.

Car authority KBA is due to publish official sales figures later on Wednesday.