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Boosted by strong demand in the UK, registrations rose 1.8 percent to 1.08 million, compared to figures released at this time last year.
April’s increase is the first since September 2011, yet without UK sales, which were up 15 percent, registrations would have recorded another fall.
Demand for new cars across Europe fell to a 17-year low last year, with most economies weak, or in recession, and unemployment hitting record highs. For the first four months of 2013, overall volumes are down seven percent, compared with the same period a year ago.