"In volume terms, this result comes close to May 2007 levels, just before the economic crisis hit the auto industry", ACEA said.
The number of passenger cars registered across the European Union increased 7.6 percent year-on-year to 1.38 million units in May.
The volume of vehicle registration increased by 7.6% in May in comparison to the year-earlier month, reaching 1.39m, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.
Sales from the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCHA.MI) stable rose 11.9 percent, as a 47.8 percent jump for sporty Alfa Romeo models helped offset a 7.3 percent drop for its Jeep SUV brand.
Germany, Spain, France and Italy all posted decent gains, ranging between 8.2% and 12.9%, while Ireland, Greece and Cyprus all saw a fall in registrations.
They were followed by France and Italy, where registrations rose by 8.9% and 11.2%.
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May's growth was led by Japanese carmakers Suzuki (7269.T) and Toyota (7203.T), up 21.4 percent and 19.6 percent respectively, and Germany's Daimler (DAIGn.DE), up 14 percent.
Diesel in particular took a hammering, dropping by a fifth as its market share dropped from 50 per cent a year ago to 43.7 per cent.
New registrations of Opel and Vauxhall, the European arms of USA giant General Motors now being taken over by PSA, slipped by 1.3 percent.
Last month, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said United Kingdom auto registrations dropped in May as buyers held back ahead of the June General Election.
German vehicle giant Volkswagen remained Europe's biggest manufacturer, with registrations of its VW, Audi, Skoda, SEAT and Porsche brands rising by 3.2 percent in the five-month period.
The fall for April was partly due to fewer trading days in April, but was also dragged down by a double-digit sales decline in Britain.
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