Total European sales in July were at 1,250,277 units, a decrease of 2.5% (31,856 units) compared to the same period last year.

However, in the first seven months of 2006, overall European sales of new cars rose to 9,702,649 units. This was an increase of 110,987 units, or 1.2% compared with the same period in 2005.

The largest market in the region in the first seven months was Germany, with total new car registrations of 2,001,743 units. The fastest-growing new car market was Latvia, where sales were up by 49% compared with the same period in 2005.

Diesel models' share of new car sales in Western and Eastern Europe in the first seven months of the year was 50%. This was an increase of 1.5% compared with the same period in 2005.

The independent data from JATO Dynamics confirms that the new car market in the UK in the first seven months of 2006 was down by 4.2% on the same period last year, at 1,410,078 units. July sales were down by 4.1% compared with the same month last year at 168,015 units.

The total new car market in the UK for the first seven months of 2006 showed a fall of 4.2% compared with the same period in 2005, to a total of 1,410,078 units.

Diesels accounted for 528,203 new car sales in the UK in the first seven months of 2006, or 37% of the overall market. This was a rise of 2% compared with the same period in 2005.

EU and EFTA top selling brands July, July YTD 2006 and change vs. 2005

Make July 06 Change July Make YTD % change YTD
Volkswagen 143,985 +8.0% Volkswagen 1,014,640 +12.0%
Vauxhall/Opel 103,323 -4.6% Renault 839,568 -11.1%
Renault 98,594 -12.1% Vauxhall/Opel 834,929 -4.1%
Ford 96,005 -10.3% Ford 796,648 -1.8%
Peugeot 88,717 -9.2% Peugeot 695,810 -3.6%
Citroen 75,175 -4.9% Citroen 579,467 -2.6%
Fiat 74,058 +8.9% Fiat 571,017 +21.5%
Toyota 72,321 +10.1% Toyota 537,290 +5.9%
Mercedes 60,788 +5.4% Mercedes 442,765 +7.5%
Audi 52,565 -2.2% BMW 410,547 +4.7%

EU and EFTA top selling models in July, July YTD 2006 and change vs. 2005

Make/model July 06 % change July Make/model July YTD % change YTD
Vauxhall/Opel Astra 36,165 -10.6% Ford Focus 288,409 +7.6%
Ford Focus 35,949 -5.6% Vauxhall/Opel Astra 275,059 -9.1%
Volkswagen Golf 35,212 -15.5% Renault Clio 274,665 +45.2%
Fiat Punto 32,165 +43.5% Fiat Punto 260,891 +61.9%
Renault Clio 31,297 +46.2% Volkswagen Golf 255,189 -16.7%
Volkswagen Passat 27,903 +47.3% Ford Fiesta 219,917 +5.8%
Volkswagen Polo 24,942 +1.2% Peugeot 307 208,689 -12.8%
Peugeot 307 23,694 -24.6% Volkswagen Passat 205,129 +56.7%
Ford Fiesta 22,970 -19.4% Peugeot 206 183,600 -32.9%
Peugeot 207 22,914 (new model) Renault Megane 179,235 -22.6%