New emission tests brake EU car sales in September

Car sales slumped across Europe in September, industry data published Wednesday showed, with the hangover from a sales binge before new emissions tests came into force knocking Volkswagen out of its traditional top spot in monthly sales.

At 1.09 million, passenger car sales were down 23.5 percent in the 28-member European Union last month compared with September 2017, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) said in a statement.

“This should not come as a surprise, as the introduction of the new WLTP test at the beginning of last month caused an exceptional surge in registrations in August" as carmakers rushed to squeeze through older models ahead of the cutoff, ACEA commented.