In January-March, car sales in the EU increased by 8.4%, to 4.14 million.

In the EU (without Malta), Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, 1.94 million cars were sold in March, or 10.9% more than a year ago. For the three months of 2017, sales rose 8.2%, to 4.26 million vehicles.

It is noted that in March, growth was recorded in the five largest car markets in Europe. In Italy, sales increased by 18.2%, to 226.2 thousand. , In Spain - by 12.6%, to 125.6 thousand. , In Germany - by 11.4%, to 359.7 thousand. In the UK, growth was 8.4%, to 562.3 thousand. , In France - 7%, to 226.1 thousand.

The maximum growth in sales was recorded in Greece (+ 49.5%), as well as in Bulgaria, Croatia and Hungary (more than 30%), notes postimees.

In Ireland, sales last month fell by 7.6%, in Latvia by 6.8%, in Finland by 3.9%, in Portugal by 1.8%.

The leader of the European car market was the Volkswagen Group. Its sales last month increased by 6.5% - to 403.3 thousand. Of cars, and its market share decreased to 21.3% from 22.3%.

The number of car registrations of the Volkswagen brand itself increased by 4.2%. Audi sales grew by 3.7%, Skoda by 8.9%, Seat by 16%, Porsche by 24%.

The share of PSA Group in the European market decreased to 9.5% from 9.8%. The company increased sales by 6.9%, to 178.8 thousand. The number of Peugeot cars sold increased by 7.8%, and Citroen - by 11.3%.

Sales of FCA Group in the European market grew by 17.7% last month, Ford increased sales by 16.7%, Opel - by 3.1%. BMW increased sales by 7.7%, Daimler - by 12.7%.

Toyota machinery sales in Europe grew by 19.2% in March, Nissan by 18.2%, Suzuki by 24.5%, Mazda by 0.5%. Other Japanese companies, Honda and Mitsubishi, became the only carmakers that reduced sales in Europe last month - by 14.6% and 0.1% respectively.

South Korean carmakers Hyundai and Kia increased sales by 9% and 10.6% respectively, Sino-Swedish Volvo increased sales by 19.5%, British-Indian Jaguar Land Rover - by 26.5% thanks to the rise in sales of Jaguar by 70.8%.