Currently reading: European car sales rise 11.2 per cent

October sales are up, but sales so far in 2009 are down year on year

European new car sales rose 11.2 per cent year on year in October, figures boosted by the continued success of scrappage incentive schemes across the continent.

The European industry association ACEA said sales were strong in western Europe, where four of the five major markets have scrappage schemes, but things were bleaker in eastern Europe, where fewer schemes exist.

See the hi-res pics of what's being scrapped in the UK

Western European sales rose 15.8 per cent last month, whereas sales in eastern Europe were down 36.9 per cent. The only market in this area to record growth was the Czech Republic, where sales were up 8.8 per cent.

Total sales so far in 2009 across Europe have reached 12,206,381 units to the end of October, which is five per cent down on the same period in 2008.

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