European car sales sank in March as Russia's invasion of Ukraine added more problems to a sector already struggling with shortages of semiconductors, industry data showed Wednesday.

Passenger car registrations fell 20.5 percent compared to the same period last year, with 844,187 units sold, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA).

Excluding 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic paralysed the global economy, it was the worst performance for a month of March since statistics began in 1990.

Car production has been hampered worldwide since last year by a severe shortage of semiconductors, a key component for modern cars as they power everything from anti-lock braking systems to airbags to parking assistance technology.

The war has led to shortages of other parts, such as the cables used in car wiring harnesses and of which Ukraine is a manufacturer.

Russia's invasion of its neighbour has added to the woes of European car manufacturers as Ukraine is a supplier of key parts
Russia's invasion of its neighbour has added to the woes of European car manufacturers as Ukraine is a supplier of key parts AFP / Patrik Stollarz

Several factories in Europe have had to go idle due to the lack of cables, with Volkswagen temporarily suspending production at a number of German sites.

Europe's top automaker saw sales fall by nearly a quarter in March, according to ACEA figures.

"The ongoing supply chain disruptions, further exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, negatively affected car production," the ACEA said.

Most countries in Europe had double-digit drops in car sales in March, the association said, with a fall of 17.5 percent in Germany, the biggest market.

There were even larger falls of around almost 20 percent in France, around 30 percent in Italy and Spain, and nearly 40 percent in Spain.

Outside the European Union, sales fell by 14.3 percent in Britain.