The U.S. market continued to recover, with Japan also posting solid results, while slumping markets in Western Europe remain a continuing cause for concern as it the Eurozone crisis showed no sign of abating as Light Vehicle sales in the region fell by 11%. The outlook for 2013 in total is for a further decline. East European demand continues to improve steadily, with Russian sales close to an annualized 2.9 million units, up 2%, year-on-year.  Overall European light vehicle sales were down by 8% as the small gains in the East were not sufficient to offset losses in the West.