---

Tentative restart for UK’s new car market in June yields 145,377 registrations, a -34.9% decline reflecting uncertain economic confidence and delayed re-opening of Welsh and Scottish showrooms. Almost quarter of a million sales to private buyers now lost since lockdown, at a cost of £1.1bn to the Treasury in VAT receipts. Year to date registrations down -48.5%, with just 653,502 new cars joining British roads in first six months – the lowest level since 1971.