French New Car Registrations Down 3% in August

By Inti Landauro

PARIS--French new vehicle registrations fell in August for a second consecutive month, according to provisional data issued Monday by the country's automobile manufacturers' association.

New registrations of personal cars decreased 3% on year in August to 83,340 units, after a 4.3% decline in July, the association said in the statement. When adjusted to the number of working days, new car registrations rose 1.8% during the month.

Despite the two declines in July and August, new registrations during the first eight months were up 1.7%.

New registrations for France's Renault SA (RNO.FR) decreased 11% in August compared with the same month last year. France's largest automotive group, PSA Peugeot Citroen (UG.FR) recorded a fall of 3.1% in new car registrations on year, a decline similar to the one registered a month earlier.

New car registrations fell 4.7% in 2013 hitting a two-decade low as consumers were put under pressure by rising taxes, mounting unemployment and eroding purchasing power in the country. The French car manufacturers' association has said it expects sales to bottom out this year and sees the market remaining flat or rising slightly.

Write to Inti Landauro at [e-mail]

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