Bulgaria's new vehicle market shows the highest decline in Europe for April 2010, according to data from European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA).

A total of 1 201 new cars were sold in Bulgaria in April 2010, which is a 50.8% decline compared to the same period of last year.

In the first four months of 2010, Bulgaria registered the third highest decline of new car sales after Romania (- 56 %) and Hungary (- 52.9 %).

In January- April 2010, Bulgaria's drop of new car sales is 46.7 % year-on-year, with a total of 4 557 purchased cars, which is almost twice as few as last year when a total of 8 543 cars were sold.

At the other end of the scale, Ireland has a 95 % rise of the new car market in April, while Portugal has the highest increase for the first four months of 2010 year-on-year, 59.1%.

Countries in the EU and the members of EFTA (Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein and Switzerland ) have registered a total decline of their new vehicle market of a 6.9 % in April 2010 down to 1 171 044 cars.

In first four months year-on-year, European countries, included in the statistical data provided by ACEA, indicate a market rise of 5.2 % up to 4 941 152 new car purchases.

The most popular car brands in Bulgaria are Toyota with 189 sales in April, Peugeot with 145 and Ford with 131 sales.