Germany, hit by bad economic news in recent weeks, led a drop in European car sales last month as demand for electric vehicles cratered.

Germany has suffered a “spectacular” drop in electric car sales as the European Union faces growing calls to delay its net zero vehicle targets.

Stellantis and Volkswagen suffered significant falls in new-car registrations in August, contributing to a sharp overall decline in the European Union, as demand weakened in key markets and electric-vehicle sales fell.

A source close to the ministry cited a senior government official as saying it had stopped work on approving export licences for arms to Israel pending a resolution of legal cases arguing that such exports from Germany breached humanitarian law. The ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

Germany plans to take a harder look at whether the weapons it supplies to Israel are not being used in violation of international law, the economy minister, Robert Habeck, said.

Germany has suspended arms exports to Israel due to legal challenges related to violations of humanitarian law, according to Reuters. The German Ministry of Economy reported that in 2023, Germany approved arms exports to Israel amounting to €326.