May Sales Up in Germany, Down in Italy

New-car registrations in Germany climbed 9% to 333,000 units in May, but sales in Italy dipped 1% to 197,300 units.

In Germany, last month’s gain was led by a 16% jump in demand for diesels, according to the KBA, the country’s motor authority. Sales of gasoline-powered cars rose 1%.

In Italy, a 7% drop in demand among individual buyers offset hikes in sales to rental fleets. Deliveries of diesel models plunged 20% to 82,800 units, according to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.

Italy’s car maker has been negatively affected by heftier taxes on models that emit more than 160 g/km of carbon dioxide, which overcame the appeal of new incentives for cars that emit less than 70 g/km of CO₂.