ACEA described November's European market as stablising, with 1,046,147 new registrations representing 1.1% decline, with one fewer selling day than the same month a year ago in several major EU markets.

Registrations in Germany were marginally up (0.9%) among nine of the 15 EU markets that showed increased sales. Spain saw the strongest growth among the five larger markets, with growth of 12.6%. Portugal and Denmark saw their first increases of this year, up 6.8% and 0.9% respectively.

The cumulative Western European market from Januaruy-November is now down 1.3%, and 1.2% down within the 15 EU member states.

Of the major manufacturing groups, VW, Renault and BMW increased their shares of the November market, but Fiat most significantly reversed recent declines with an 8.1% share improving on 7.6% a year earlier thanks to stronger sales in its home market. Japanese brands held 12.8% of the market compared to 11.2% a year earlier, and the Korean brands took 3.3% against 2.7% in November 2002. MG Rover's European sales of 7,736 units brought it a share of 0.7%, down from 0.9% a year earlier.