Europe car sales return to growth after year of declines

Carmakers are seeing glimmers of improvement with some supply-chain constraints such as the lack of semiconductors beginning to ease.

Europe’s new-car market returned to growth in August for the first gain in 13 months, though the respite may be short-lived as record inflation and an unprecedented energy crisis threaten to put off buyers.

Registrations rose 3.4% to 748,961 vehicles last month, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association said Friday. Germany’s Mercedes-Benz AG was among the best performers with a 16% jump from a year ago.