European passenger car sales jumped by 5.7 per cent in 2014, bringing to an end six consecutive years of falling registrations as a stagnating economy led auto buyers to turn to low-cost brands, data released on Friday showed, according to dpa. Passenger car registrations in the European Union (EU) climbed to 12.5 million last year after slumping to a two-decade low in 2013 as sales surged in nations at the centre of the region's debt crisis, the Brussels-based European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) said. While Spain posted a 18.4-per-cent gain last year, sales in Portugal rocketed up 34.8 per cent with Ireland not far behind at 29.6 per cent, consequently adding to hopes that their economies might have reached a turning point after years of fiscal austerity, faltering economic growth and high unemployment. Sales in Greece, where an economic and financial meltdown helped to trigger the euro debt crisis about five years ago, climbed 21.3 per cent. But the continuing uncertain economic climate in Europe helped to drive sales of low-cost brands. Helping to boost Europe's total sales last year was a 23.9-per-cent rise in French carmaker Renault's budget brand Dracia. Skoda and SEAT models produced by Europe's biggest carmaker, Germany's Volkswagen, each logged up gains of about 14 per cent. European dealers of Japan's Nissan brand reported a 13.4-per-cent pickup in 2014 sales. Luxury margues also enjoyed gains last year with registrations of Toyota's Lexus brand racing ahead by 30 per cent. Sales of the world's leading premium brand BMW rose 4.6 per cent, while Audi was up 4.8 per cent and Mercedes-Benz rose 5.5 per cent. Deliveries in Italy, which has also been battling to emerge from a protracted downturn, rose 4.2 per cent in 2014. Italy's flagship Fiat brand posted a 2.4-per-cent rise last year. Europe's biggest car market, Germany also chalked up a healthy rise of 2.9 per cent, while sales in Britain were up 9.3 per cent. Sales in France however edged higher by just 0.3 per cent as the country's car dealers struggled against the backdrop of a downbeat economic performance. In December, total car registrations in the EU rose for the sixteenth consecutive time, climbing 4.7 per cent year on year to 951,329 units, the ACEA said.
