(ANSA) - TRIESTE - Car registrations have sharply increased in the New Europe, according to some preliminary data issued today by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (Acea), which recorded a 6.1% growth in sales in the EU market from January to September 2014, compared with the first nine months of 2013.

In addition to the major markets - the United Kingdom (+9.1%), Italy (+3.6%), Germany (+2.9%), France (+2.1%) -, a big increase in the period January-September 2014 compared with 2013 was recorded in registrations in Bulgaria (9%), Croatia (+ 25.8%), Czech Republic (17.7%), Greece (22.3%), Hungary (+20.3 %), Latvia (19%), Lithuania (24.5%), Poland (15%), Romania (25.5%), Slovakia (+13.1%). Smaller increases were recorded in Slovenia (+2.1%) and Estonia (4.7%). Countertrend in Austria: this country recorded a decrease by 4.3% in the first nine months of 2014 compared with the same period of 2013 (ANSA).