European car sales rose 4.6 percent in October, according to industry data published Tuesday, as a broad-based recovery took root in the region's main auto markets.

Toyota and Renault led the gains among mass manufacturers, with Daimler gaining ground on premium rivals as total registrations advanced to 1.04 million cars, the Association of European Automakers said.

Despite what is becoming a sustained upturn in demand, the European auto market is set to post a sixth consecutive full-year decline in 2013 to its lowest level in two decades.