Analysts predicted a down year for the European new car market, and the market complied. 968,769 cars changed hands in the EU, down 7.1 percent from January 2011. This according to data released today by the manufacturers association ACEA.

Amongst the volume markets, France (-20.7 percent) and Italy (-16.9 percent) were badly mauled. The German (-0.4 percent) and British (-0.0 percent) markets remained stable.

Automakers report concomitant effects. Volkswagen gained a full 1.8 percent of market share by increasing sales 0.7 percent in a down market. Makers with more exposure to the southern parts of Europe sustained gaping wounds. PSA, down 14.9 percent, lost 1.1 points of share. Renault, down a whopping 25.2 percent, lost a full 2 points of share. Fiat, down 16.2 percent, lost 0.8 points of share.

Ford, down 4.3 percent, increased market share by 0.2 points.  GM is less lucky. On a group level, GM  Europe is down 14.2 percent for a loss of 0.6 percent of share. This covers the fact that Opel lost a full percent of share, whereas Chevrolet gained 0.4 percent of share.

Full data can be retrieved here as PDF, and here as Excel spreadsheet.