Berlin: Volkswagen AG lost market share in Europe for the 14th straight month since the emissions-cheating scandal erupted in September 2015, as competitors took advantage of the German automaker’s tarnished image to attract buyers.

Volkswagen accounted for 24.9 per cent of the region’s car sales in October, compared with 25.3 per cent a year earlier, the Brussels-based European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, or ACEA, said in a statement on Thursday. Industry-wide European registrations slipped 0.3 per cent last month to 1.14 million vehicles, burdened by one less selling day. Volkswagen underperformed with a 1.8 per cent decrease across the group’s brands.

While Europe’s biggest carmaker has made strides in emerging from the crisis, Volkswagen still faces criminal investigations and hundreds of investor lawsuits after admitting to rigging diesel cars to cheat on emissions tests. The revelations harmed the company’s reputation for quality, helping Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, Daimler AG and BMW AG gain an advantage. Volkswagen’s 10-month European market share narrowed to 24 per cent from 25.1 per cent a year earlier.

European car sales have been increasing since 2013, rebounding from a two-decade low in the aftermath of the financial crisis. Growth has cooled in recent months as concerns about the U.K.’s exit from the European Union cloud the region’s economic outlook. LMC Automotive projects growth in Western Europe will slow to 1.3 per cent in 2017 from 5.7 per cent this year. Industry-wide European sales for the January-October period rose 6.9 per cent to 12.7 million vehicles.

Fiat gains

Despite uncertainty, Brexit has yet to have a major impact on UK auto demand, with registrations rising 1.4 per cent in October and increasing 2.5 per cent so far this year. Meanwhile, October sales in Germany, the region’s biggest market, slumped 5.6 per cent. The ACEA compiles numbers from the European Union’s 28 member countries, excluding Malta, plus Switzerland, Norway and Iceland.

Fiat Chrysler posted a 6.6 per cent gain, boosted by rising demand for its Jeep brand. Daimler’s registrations climbed 6.1 per cent as the German manufacturer expands its line-up of Mercedes-Benz sport utility vehicles. BMW sales rose 3.5 per cent on a lift from the Mini brand.

Factbox: PSA, Renault, VW lead European car sales decline

European car sales fell 0.3 per cent in October, with the region’s three biggest automakers Volkswagen, PSA and Renault leading the decline, according to industry data published on Thursday. Registrations came in at 1.14 million cars last month in the region comprising European Union member states as well as Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, the Brussels-based Association of European Carmakers said in a statement. PSA sales fell 7.4 per cent, weighed down by the Citroen brand’s 8.9 per cent decline, while Peugeot sales were down a more modest 4.6 per cent. Renault group registrations were 2.1 per cent lower, and Volkswagen suffered a 1.8 per cent sales slide largely attributable to the core VW brand’s 7.8 per cent drop.