Europe car sales jump 17% in July

Auto sales in Europe rose in July as growing demand for electric vehicles and improved parts availability helped fuel an 12th consecutive month of growth.

New-car registrations increased 17% to 1.02 million vehicles, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association said Wednesday. Sales of battery-electric cars surged 62%, while deliveries of diesel models declined 9%. Markets including Germany, France and Spain saw double-digit sales growth.

Carmakers have been working through orders that stacked up during a prolonged period of supply issues. Now that shortages of semiconductors and other critical components have eased, the industry's outlook is clouded by prospects for higher living and borrowing costs taking more of a toll on consumers.


While Tesla Inc.'s Model Y was the best-selling vehicle in Europe in the first half, local manufacturers are preparing to fight back.