European car sales grew by 7.3% last month, industry data showed today, with volume and premium car makers both posting strong growth.
Registrations of new passenger cars in the European Union and the European Free Trade Association rose to 1.496 million vehicles in September, a seasonally strong month.
This was up from 1.395 million a year earlier, the Brussels-based Association of European Carmakers (ACEA) said.
Renault posted the largest gain among major car makers with an 18.7% increase despite growth in its French home market edging up by only 2.5%.
Fiat Chrysler jumped 14.2%, helped by double-digit growth in Italy, Spain and Portugal.
The ACEA said that the region's top five markets of Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Spain kept growing.
Volkswagen, a year after its emissions scandal came to light, posted a 3.3% advance in European registrations at the VW brand, its fourth-best monthly result this year.
Luxury nameplates BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Lexus posted double-digit or near double-digit growth.
