Over the first nine months of 2017, demand for passenger cars remained positive in the EU and EFTA (Iceland, Norway and Switzerland), with more than 12 million new vehicles registered – an increase of 3.6 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Car sales fell in September, dragged down by a 9.3 per cent fall in the UK, Europe’s second largest auto market, according to the Brussels-based European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).

The British fall, amid a weak pound and stalled Brexit talks, was the sixth straight monthly decline and the first contraction for September since 2011.

Registrations since January gained, with Germany rising 2.2 per cent, France up 3.9 per cent, that separatist hot potato Spain climbing 6.8 per cent and those crazy Italians splashing out on new Fiats and Alfa Romeos (presumably), jumping 9.0 per cent.

ACEA reports figures from the 28 EU countries, excluding Malta, as well as Switzerland, Norway and Iceland.

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