Europe car market rises for first time in nine months

European registrations rose marginally in May, helped by a jump in deliveries in Germany. Sales in the EU and EFTA markets climbed 0.04 percent to 1.44 million cars compared to a year ago, industry association ACEA said in a statement on Tuesday, Automotive News reads.

Among the winners for the month were Lexus, whose registrations rose 26 percent; BMW, up 15 percent; Seat, also up 15 percent; Citroen, up 14 percent; and Toyota brand, up 11 percent.

Losers included Alfa Romeo, whose volume plunged 49 percent; Nissan, down 18 percent; Jeep, down 13 percent; Renault brand, down 10 percent; and VW brand down 8.6 percent.

Sales in Germany surged 9.1 percent. Automakers in Europe’s biggest market, including Volkswagen and BMW, are offering as much as 7,500 euros ($8,424) in incentives toward purchasing cleaner models as a number of cities weigh or have put in place bans on older diesel cars.