PARIS, April 1, 2008 (AFP) - Car sales in France were little changed in March at 188,943 according to unadjusted figures but showed a sharp gain when actual selling days were counted, French auto industry group CCFA said Tuesday.

The CCFA said that on an unadjusted basis, auto sales slipped 0.5 percent in March but they jumped 9.5 percent when holidays were counted.

Overall, passenger car sales were at a good level in the first quarter, rising 1.3 percent from a year earlier to 526,185, it said in a statement.

When adjusted for actual selling days, the gain was 3.0 percent, it added.

For March alone, French brands accounted for 101,644 car sales, down 0.4 percent, while foreign marques fell 0.6 percent to 87,299.