UK new car market Delivers Strong August as Fleet Sales Rocket
Published Date: 21st Sep 2016
??The domination of the new Ford Fiesta continued in August, followed closely by the Ford Focus. The Ford Focus and Fiesta are set for another boost, with the release of the new ST-Line that offers sports styling with very economical engines. The combination results in Zero rated Road Tax on most models in the ST-Line Range. This new trim level from Ford will look to further cement Ford’s position at the top of UK car sales.
- UK new car registrations increase 3.3% in August to 81,640 units, with YTD performance steady at 1.68m.
- Fleet sector drives market, with an increase of 7.7% as private registrations drop by -0.2%.
- Registrations of alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFV’s) increased 30.8%.
The UK new car market achieved positive growth for August, as registrations rose 3.3% against the same figures from last year, according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 81,640 new cars were registered in the month, with year-to-date performance remaining positive, up 2.8% to 1.68 million units.
The fleet sector drove the growth with demand, buoyed by attractive finance deals and discounts, rising 7.7% to 43,267, while private registrations fell slightly by -0.2%. Diesel demand also fell marginally by -0.2%, with petrol registrations edging ahead 5.3% and alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFV) seeing significant growth of 30.8%. Almost 54,000 AFVs have been registered so far in 2016, compared with just over 44,000 last year.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, Announced, “August is traditionally one of the quietest months as consumers look ahead to the September plate change, so growth, albeit small, is good news. With showrooms full of exciting models featuring the very latest technology and a raft of affordable finance options, it still makes economic sense to consider buying a new car. The key to maintaining this strong market is consumer confidence for which we look to government to deliver the conditions for economic growth.”
