New car registrations in Europe rose 6.9% in April, industry data showed, on growth in large markets like Italy, France, Germany and the UK.
The data also showed that demand for mass market brands like Volkswagen outpaced sales of premium vehicles.
New registrations in the European Union (EU) and countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) rose to 1,209,551 passenger cars, data from the Association of European Carmakers (ACEA) showed.
In the European Union, car sales rose for 20 months in a row, ACEA said, adding that all major markets grew.
Sales in Italy, Europe's fourth largest market, up 24.2% in April, and demand in Germany, Europe's largest market, climbing 6.3%.
Registrations in the UK rose 5.1% and demand in Spain eased, rising only 3.2% after months of double-digit growth after a government scrappage scheme ran out.
Among the top gainers was Renault Group, which saw sales in the EU and EFTA bloc jump 15.3%, boosted mainly by a 15.6% surge in sales of Renault branded cars, and sales of Dacia branded cars up 14.7%.
Demand for Skoda branded cars was up 9.5% while premium brands Audi and Mercedes saw registrations rise only 3.7% and 3%.
Europe's best selling car brand remains Volkswagen, which recorded a 5.6% rise in registrations to 154,311 passenger cars last month.
Sales of Fiat cars and those of Opel and its sister brand Vauxhall cars rose 9.7% and 5.7% respectively, during the same period, ACEA data showed.
