New car sales pick up in Western Europe. Sales of new cars in Western Europe rose by 9.6% in September 2009 compared with September 2008, according to the latest figures released by the European Car Manufacturers Association (ACEA). This is the largest increase in September sales since 1999. Sales of new cars in Europe rose by 6.3% to more than 1.1 million. Germany brought the figures up, with a 21% rise, followed by Spain (+18%), Austria (+17.9%), France (+14%), Norway (+12.7%), the UK (+11.4%), Italy (+6.8%) and Switzerland (+2.9%). In the first three quarters of 2009, new car sales only rose in Germany (+26.1%), Austria (+6.7%) and France (+2.4%), with other countries recording falling sales. Scrappage subsidies and other aid measures introduced by the member states are the reason for the rising sales and manufacturers fear new car sales may drop when the subsidies are withdrawn. The state of the new car market in the new member states remains very gloomy, falling by 36% in September and by 29% in the first three quarters of 2009. Only Poland is doing well, with a 7.9% rise in sales. The only other new member state to have recorded a rise in new car sales in September 2009 is the Czech Republic (+0.5%). Volkswagen tops the league of new car sales in Europe (274,630 in September; annual rise of 3.7%), followed by PSA Peugeot Citroën (163,606; up 6.8%) and Ford/Volvo (158,688; up 16.3%). (I.L./transl.fl)