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BRUSSELS, July 22 (Reuters) - Car price differences between European Union member states remain substantial despite the introduction of euro notes and coins, the European Commission said on Monday.
"The situation as of May 1, 2002, showed that no significant price convergence has yet taken place," the Commission said in its regular six-month survey of the market. The survey was the first since euro notes and coins were issued on January 1.
"There is no convergence towards an average European car price," Michael Tscherny, spokesman for EU Competition Commissioner Mario Monti, told a news brieing.
The Commission said car prices before tax were generally the lowest in Spain, Greece, Finland and Denmark, which is not a euro zone member.
The highest euro zone prices were in Germany and Austria. Non-euro-zone Britain had the highest EU prices for more than half the models examined, a fact which led many British consumers to buy cars from the continent, the Commisison said.
Last week the Commission revised rules governing car retail sales in the 15-country bloc, reducing the grip auto makers currently have on the sector in a move to increase competition and bring down prices.