Berlin  - European vehicle sales plummeted 7.9 per cent in June, data released Wednesday showed, with Asian carmakers helping to lead the fall as surging fuel prices and growing economic concerns hit car buyers.

New car registrations slumped to 1,427,008 from 1,549,574 in June 2007, the Brussels-based European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) said with car sales for the first half of the year falling by 2.2 per cent.

"Rising inflation and soaring fuel prices were among the main factors influencing new registrations," the ACEA said releasing the data. (dpa)