ACEA: European passenger car registrations rose for 16th consecutive month in December

The European Automobile Manufacturers Association reported on Friday that passenger car registrations in the European Union (excluding Malta) rose for the 16th consecutive month in December 2014. Monthly sales were up 4.7% in December 2014 versus December 2013, while full-year sales for 2014 totaled 15,550,771, up 5.7% over 2013. This is the first increase in new car registrations in the EU since 2007 after six consecutive years of declines. The largest annual increases were in Spain (18.1%), the UK (9.3%), Italy (4.2%), and Germany (2.9%).