European new-car sales rose 11 percent in August, the second-largest gain this year, as rising economic confidence boosted sales of SUVs from Renault, Citroen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
Registrations jumped to 781,676 vehicles last month from 701,251 a year earlier, said the Brussels-based European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association.
Eight-month sales increased 8.6 percent to 9.38 million autos. That included growth of 9.5 percent in July.
European sales of Renault Group’s main brand increased 20 percent in August, helped by the introduction of the Kadjar compact SUV and continuing momentum from its smaller Captur model.
Rival PSA/Peugeot-Citroen posted a sales gain of 9.2 percent in the region, as the C4 Cactus helped propel a 14 percent jump at the Citroen marque. BMW Group’s companywide European deliveries rose 21 percent, with the main namesake brand posting a 17 percent increase and demand at the Mini unit, which has renewed its lineup, surging 37 percent. BMW brand is attracting customers with the coupe-like X4 and X6 SUVs, and is presenting the latest version of the X1, its smallest offering in the segment, at the Frankfurt auto show this week.
Mercedes, which may overtake Audi as the world’s second-biggest luxury-car brand this year, sold 19 percent more vehicles as its GLA compact SUV wins new customers.
Volkswagen Group reported a 5.7 percent sales gain in the region last month, with jumps of 34 percent at the Porsche brand, 12 percent at the mass-market Skoda division and 8.2 percent at Audi.
U.S. manufacturer Ford Motor Co. sold 8.3 percent more cars in Europe, while competitor General Motors Co.’s Opel and Vauxhall brands posted a 15 percent jump, helped by the Mokka subcompact SUV.
