Renault, Volkswagen and Fiat Chrysler led a 29.8 percent European car sales increase last month, the major regional industry body stated, as automakers used discounts to clear inventory prior tougher emissions tests.
Registrations throughout Europe rose to 1.17 million cars, well over usual levels for the slow month of August and the 902,870 gained in the same month in 2017, Brussels-based ACEA stated on Wednesday.
The stricter new Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test (WLTP) became necessary on September 1, forcing automakers consisting Renault and Volkswagen to stop deliveries of some model versions that had yet to be re-certified for emissions.
Ahead of the deadline, many increased financial incentives and registrations of their own new vehicles to be sold on the used vehicles market, analysts have stated.
“Some auto manufacturers offered pre‐WLTP vehicles at extremely attractive prices,” ACEA stated. “As a result, double-digit percentage gains were registered in many EU countries.”
The statistics published on Wednesday for the European Union and four European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries show that France’s Renault posted the steepest boost in regional sales, with a 56.4 percent boost. Its alliance partner Nissan’s sales increased 46.3 percent.
Volkswagen Group sales boosted 39.3 percent, where as Fiat Chrysler registrations increased 38.9 percent, with purchases by its Jeep brand leaping by 158 percent.
Forecasters expect the market boost to be offset by a sales lesser in the remaining months of the year, in which the August discounters are possibly to come off worse.
By contrast, Peugeot maker PSA Group and Japan’s Toyota, that both had WTLP-compliant line-ups prior the deadline, recorded August sales boosts of 17-18 percent.
