BRUSSELS (AP) -- European car makers say vehicle production in 2009 was at the lowest level in 14 years.
A Thursday report from auto makers' group ACEA says some 15.2 million cars, trucks, vans and buses were turned out in Europe last year, the lowest level since 1996.
Car output was 13.4 million, down 17.3 percent from 2008, while truck production slipped by 64 percent as companies held back on replacing big-ticket items, such as transport.
Car sales dropped far less, by 1.3 percent, last year as government cash-for-clunkers programs held up the market -- and boosted sales of small fuel-efficient models and cheaper imported cars.
