FRANKFURT (AP) -- New car registrations in the European Union increased 12.9 percent in January compared with the same month a year ago, with Western European fleet renewal schemes especially contributing to the gain, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association said Tuesday.
Registrations were up in a number of countries, according to the ACEA, which is based in Brussels. Italy saw a 30.2 percent increase in registrations, while the U.K. saw a near 30 percent increase.
Spain saw an 18 percent increase, while France saw a 14.3 percent increase. The group said Germany was the only major market which posted a registration decline of 4.3 percent. Romanian registrations, meanwhile, posted a near 85 percent decline.
The ACEA said in total 1.1 million cars were registered for the month in the EU, not including Cyprus and Malta.
Compared to January of 2008, however, registrations are down 17.3 percent, the ACEA said.
