The ACEA has reported today that with 1,3653,206 new cars registered in September, the market in Western Europe was up 4.4% year on year, and up 4.5% in the 15 EU markets. There was one more sales day last month than in September a year earlier, but it was revived demand in 10 of Europe's 15 markets, including the five largest ones, that drove the figures up.

Finland registered a 26.5% increase, though the UK's 1.5% increase had a larger effect on the European total. Sales trends remain highly variable across Europe: Swedish registrations were 1% down, Greece's 27.3% down.

For the year to date, Western European registrations are now down 1.5% year on year at 11,007523 units, and 1.3% down within the EU 15. Germany's market is down 0.3% YTD.

Manufacturers that increase market share in September included the Japanese and Korean brands collectively, Renault with new models pushing sales up over 16%, DaimlerChrysler, and MG Rover, which had a 1.6% share up from 1.4% a year earlier.