Car sales figures in Europe have fallen in July, according to official figures reported across the continent.

New car sales in Italy fell by 11.5 per cent in the month. A total of 189,404 units were sold.

Sales also declined in France and Spain by around five per cent as manufacturers struggled at the start of the second half of the year.

In France, new car registrations totalled 151,571 units, while new registrations in Spain fell to 154,757 units.

The large fall in Italy, Europe's third-biggest car market, was partly down to the fact that sales had been unusually strong during July of 2005, however, against which the latest monthly figure was measured.

Many consumers bought a new car at that time following the end of a strike by car haulers.

According to Reuters, the French market was down 1.4 per cent for 2006 to date when adjusted for working days.

Sales in Spain were also down over the same period by 1.9 per cent.

The auto industry accounts for around 40 per cent of total demand for platinum, as the metal is used in autocatalyst technology.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd