UK new car market grows for 12th successive month

ERJ staff report (BC)

London – The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has posted UK car registration statistics for February 2013. Highlights include:

• UK new car registrations rose 7.9% to 66,749 units in February.

• Registrations over the year-to-date increased 10.3% to 210,392 units.

• Growth boosted by private demand again, with February securing the highest growth in the private market since the end of the Scrappage Incentive Scheme in Spring 2010.

• Registrations of petrol and alternatively-fuelled cars rose more than a fifth in February.

• February is typically the smallest volume monthly market, ahead of the registration plate-change in March.

Mike Baunton, SMMT interim chief executive, said: “UK new car registrations have risen every month for the last year with February continuing the trend, growing 7.9% year-on-year boosted by the highest increase in private consumer demand since spring 2010.

“However, February is traditionally a low volume month as motorists look forward to the plate-change in March, but attractive new car deals are sustaining the market. New models are delivering ever greater fuel efficiency, practicality, refinement, technology and predictable ownership costs, so motorists are seeing the benefit of new car purchases.”

This is an external link and should open in a new window. If the window does not appear, please check your pop-up blocking software. ERJ is not responsible for the content of external sites.

News release