1.17m new cars were registered across Europe in April – a rise of 6.9 per cent year-on-year. Across the first third of 2015, sales were up 8.2 per cent, according to Europe's car manufacturer body, Acea.
Europe has enjoyed 20 consecutive months of growth, buoyed by renewed consumer confidence across the continent.
The economic crisis of 2007-8 onwards had severely stifled demand for new cars in Europe.
The industry's six-year decline halted last year when it saw its first calendar year of growth. However, since then, passenger car sales have dropped by 4.6m to around 13.6m.
And despite the good news for April, industry experts have been warning against complacency. The industry in Europe is still recovering and is unlikely to see the growth in demand enjoyed by the United States in recent years.
Sales figures comparable to those seen in 2007 are unlikely to materialise for some time in Europe.
The biggest rise in European sales was seen in Italy, with a 24 per cent increase. The continent’s biggest new car market, Germany, saw sales go up by six per cent.
The UK saw registrations rise by 5 per cent, following three consecutive years of increases. In France – where new car sales have long been in the doldrums – saw a more modest increase of two per cent.
In Spain sales rose by three per cent, assisted by a continuing scrappage scheme.
In Russia, by contrast, car and commercial vehicle sales have plummeted by 42 per cent, following economic problems resulting from steeply falling oil prices and sanctions over Ukraine.
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