EU car sales at three-year low as EV sales plunge 44%

Registrations of plug-in electric cars meanwhile fell 22.3% in the 27-member eurozone.

New car sales in the European Union fell 18.3% in August to their lowest in three years, dragged down by double-digit losses in major markets Germany, France and Italy and sliding electric vehicle (EV) sales, auto industry body data shows.

The data showed the fourth consecutive monthly drop in EV sales, prompting the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) to demand "urgent action" to prevent further decline.