Registrations of new cars rose in Western Europe by 2.1 per cent during September 2005, new figures reveal.

Data from German car industry association VDA (Verband der Automobilindustrie) indicates that a record 1.38 million vehicles were registered in Western Europe last month.

In a statement VDA announced that registrations in France were up seven per cent in September, while Spain witnessed a five per cent increase in registrations, Germany and Italy were both up four per cent and UK new car registrations dipped by three per cent.

The association attributed the record September figures to new model releases and an increase in buying incentives and noted that rising fuel prices failed to dampen registrations during the month. The figures were above industry estimates, Reuters news agency reports.

The VDA is forecasting total registrations of 3.3 million units in Germany for 2005. In figures released earlier this month, the association revealed that GM’s German brand, Opel, saw registrations soar by 28.6 per cent in September to 33,165 units, while the Volkswagen brand saw registrations up by 7.6 per cent to 56,343 units last month.

According to the VDA, new car registrations were up 0.4 per cent across Europe during the first nine months of 2005, to 11.25 million units. Denmark has so far seen the biggest growth in registrations, which were up during the first three-quarters of the year by 25 per cent.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd