New passenger vehicle registrations in European countries were flat in 2007. The largest European car markets were Germany, Italy, Britain and France.
In 2007, 15,958,871 new passenger cars were registered in the European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries. The European new car market was relatively flat showing only a 1.1% increase over 2006 when 15,782,959 new cars were registered. The important German market was down while the other three large markets – Italy, Britain, and France – showed only modest growth.
Europe’s favorite car model in 2007, according to Jato, was the Peugeot 207, followed by the VW Golf and the Ford Focus.
The European Car Market in 2007
Weakness in the important German car market, largely due to an increase in value-added tax in January 2007 and continued uncertainties on emission controls, was the main reason for the flat European car market in 2007. The German market contracted by 9.2% – or around 320,00 cars – and slight growth in other major markets could not overcome the dampening effect of the large German market.
2007 Full Year new passenger car registrations in Europe in 2007 were according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) as follows:
Country … New Car Registrations in 2007 … % Change from 2006
Total European Union* & EFTA … 15,958,871 … +1.1
European Union (EU15) … 14,363,279 … -0.0
- Germany … 3,148,163 … -9.2
- Italy … 2,490,570 … +7.1
- United Kingdom … 2,404,007 … +2.5
- France … 2,064,543 … +3.2
- Spain … 1,614,835 … -1.2
- Belgium … 524,795 … -0.3
- Netherlands … 504,195 … +4.2
- Sweden … 306,799 … +8.5
- Austria … 296,414 … -3.9
- Greece … 279,794 … +4.5
- Portugal … 201,868 … +3.7
- Ireland … 186,540 … +4.5
- Denmark … 162,552 … +3.6
- Finland … 125,608 … -13.8
- Luxemburg … 52,596 … +3.5
EU (New Members)* … 1,164,664 … +14.5
- Romania … 312,532 … +26.3
- Poland … 293,319 … +22.9
- Hungary … 173,025 … -7.8
- Czech Republic … 132,542 … +6.9
- Slovenia … 65,511 … +12.1
- Slovakia … 59,700 … +1.0
- Bulgaria … 43,521 … +19.4
- Latvia … 32,497 … +26.8
- Estonia … 30,902 … +21.1
- Lithuania … 21,115 … +48.3
*Figures for the very small Malta & Cyprus markets are not included.
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) … 430,928 … +8.9
- Switzerland … 285,563 … +6.0
- Norway … 129,195 … +18.3
- Iceland … 16,170 … -5.6