European car sales rev up

European car sales accelerated more than nine percent in 2015 but scandal-hit Volkswagen lagged, an auto manufacturer's association said Friday.

In a year that saw German auto giant VW engulfed in a massive pollution cheating scandal, Europe's overall car market grew 9.3 percent compared to 2014, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) said.

That translated into the sale of 13.7 million cars in 2015, it added.

Sales at VW rose by 6.3 percent despite the giant grappling its biggest crisis over disclosures in September that it had fitted 11 million of its vehicles with devices designed to cheat pollution tests.

France's Renault group enjoyed a 9.2-percent rise, while its rival PSA Peugeot Citroen trailed Europe's overall trend, with 6.2 percent growth.

Shares in Renault plunged by 10 percent Thursday after unions said French anti-fraud detectives had last week raided several of the company's premises.

Officials said no pollution cheating software was found on Renault cars but investors are jumpy after the VW scandal.