European car sales backslide in the midst of another virus wave

Car sales fell in Europe’s four largest auto markets last month, signaling demand has relapsed in the midst of another wave of the coronavirus cases hitting the region.

German new-car registrations dropped 3.6% in October from a year ago, the country’s Federal Motor Transport Authority said Wednesday. Sales plunged by more than a fifth in Spain, slumped 10% in France and slipped 0.2% in Italy, suggesting the industry will be unable to maintain the surprise growth seen in September.

The figures are a troubling potential harbinger of what lies ahead for Europe’s car industry and broader economy. Much of the month’s vehicle registrations were compiled before governments in several countries re-instituted tighter restrictions on public life in hopes of containing the resurgence of Covid-19.