BERLIN -- German new-car registrations are expected to decline by 6 percent in 2020 as the coronavirus outbreak hits automakers and suppliers, industry association VDA said on Thursday.
The group previously predicted a decline of 4 percent.
The German market ended 2019 with sales up 5 percent to 3.6 million.
VDA said it sees a bigger impact on China's auto market, forecasting a decline of 7 percent compared to a previously expected decline of 2 percent.
VDA President Hildegard Mueller said the effects of the coronavirus were still unclear but she said a rapid improvement was not to be expected.
VDA said it had set up a crisis task force, which will analyze the coronavirus situation and discuss potential responses.
