Downward spiral of new car registrations in Europe slows – ACEA

BERLIN (Reuters) – The downward spiral of new car registrations in Europe since July is easing, industry data showed on Friday, with the number of new vehicles registered in November down 17.5% compared to a 30% fall the previous month.

A global semiconductor shortage and other supply chain issues have dampened deliveries of cars globally, with carmakers sitting on half-finished goods and unable to meet demand.

The number of new vehicles registered in the European Union, Britain and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) rose four months in a row to June this year but has fallen every month since then, data from Europe’s auto association ACEA has shown.

Still, the number of new vehicles registered in the European Union, Britain and European Free Trade Association countries in November was just 17.5% below last year’s levels, compared to a 30% drop in November, 25% in September and 23.6% in August.

(Reporting by Victoria Waldersee; Editing by Maria Sheahan)