European new-car sales rose 9.8 percent in September with all major brands including Volkswagen showing strong gains.
Incentive schemes to buy new cars and scrap older ones and the continuing economic recovery across southern Europe helped to lift demand, industry association ACEA said, raising total sales for the month in the EU and EFTA countries to 1.39 million cars.
VW Group’s 8.3 percent gain in September was less than the overall market, causing the company’s market share to drop to 23.3 percent from 23.7 percent a year earlier. Among group brands Audi and Skoda had 10 percent gains while VW brand’s growth was 8 percent and Seat sales increased by 5 percent. Porsche’s volume was up 51 percent.
The bulk of VW sales had occurred before the full extent of the diesel emissions rigging scandal engulfed the automaker.
