New car sales in Europe slumped 8.2%in September as the financial crisis put off potential buyers, the ACEA car makers association said today.
'The drop in registrations confirms the aggravating market circumstances, as the fall-out of the financial crisis hits auto manufacturers hard,' the association said.
'Customers are increasingly hesitant to make large expenditures and find it more difficult to get their purchase financed,' it added.
ACEA said a total of 1,304,583 new cars were registered in Septmeber in the 28 countries it reviewed - the 27 EU member states, minus Cyprus and Malta, plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.
New car sales usually pick up after the summer holidays, but the association said that the figure was the worst for a September since 1998.
