European car sales plunge as pandemic provokes crisis

All major markets recorded double-digit declines, down 32.3% in Spain, 28% in Italy and 25% in France.

Cars stand at the factory area during a press tour at the plant of the German manufacturer Volkswagen AG ,VW, in Zwickau, Germany. Picture: Jens Meyer/AP

European car sales plunged by nearly a quarter last year as the pandemic provoked the worst crisis ever to hit the capital-intensive industry.

New car registrations sank by 23.7%, or three million vehicles, to 9.9 million units, according to new figures released by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.