EU new car sales plunge by 23 per cent

New car sales in Europe have plunged 23.5 per cent off the back of new emission rules, fresh data reveals.

The new Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) that came into effect in September has forced many car-makers to adopt new emissions technologies; chiefly, particulate filters and de-tuned engines to comply with legislation.

The WLTP cycle is supposed to provide results that better reflect real-world driving, as opposed to the now-defunct NEDC procedure, which was conducted entirely in a lab.

The changeover means outgoing volume has been affected as car-makers work to comply with the new legislation. European sales data reveals that deliveries fell 23.5 per cent year-on-year during the month of September, from 1.427 million vehicles to 1.091 million.

While total deliveries have increased 2.5 per cent year-to-date (January to September), it is clear that car-makers are feeling the pinch by either busily updating their engines or scrapping models altogether.

European buyers have voted with their feet as well. During August, the last month before the WLTP changes took effect, registrations jumped by 31.2 per cent as people rushed to get a new vehicle.

Volkswagen Group took the biggest hit in September, with deliveries falling 48 per cent (330,527 to 171,963). Within that, Porsche sales dived 68.8 per cent and Audi by 60.7 per cent.

In Australia, Volkswagen stakeholders have warned the WLTP changes will adversely affect the vehicles offered, already culminating in the manual Golf GTI and Golf R being scrapped from local showrooms.

Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Jaguar have also been forced to rationalise their model line-ups as a result of the WLTP changes.