Europe’s Auto Sales Accelerate As Investors Eye Economy Threats, China

The European auto industry’s vital signs look promising, but although sales are rallying they lag way behind pre-COVID peaks, while the economic background points to trouble ahead for investors. And the Chinese are coming.

Forecasters are confidently pointing to strong sales growth. LMC Automotive says car and SUV sales in Western Europe will accelerate by 9.2% in 2023 to 11.08 million; that’s faster than the 8.6% it was expecting a month ago. Alix Partners says sales in all of Europe will rise 6% to 15.9 million this year.