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(AP) - END OF THE TUNNEL: The European car market has endured its longest slump ever with a sixth straight year of contraction in 2013, but an unexpected surge in December sales may signal the beginning of a recovery.
DOWNHILL: EU car sales shrank 1.7 percent last year to 11.8 million, the lowest level since 1995 and a 26 percent contraction from 2007. The slide, however, was not as large as automakers had feared, largely thanks to an improvement at the end of the year. A 13.3 percent gain in December extended a market upswing to four months.
FUEL INJECTED: The fading recession, an aging European fleet supporting replacement demand, incentives in some countries and lower financing costs are all feeding an upswing that caught many industry watchers by surprise.
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