Today’s announcement from the Alliance and Leicester makes
good reading for consumers as we approach the end of what many expect to be
a record year for new car registrations.
On average, the price paid by the consumer for their new cars
in September was 3.1 per cent down on last year. However, that figure does not
tell the full story. A&L’s own figures show that prices have fallen each month
for more than two years, despite a host of new and innovative products being
launched by the motor industry with higher specifications and longer warranties
on many existing models.
The biggest drop came in the small cars segment, down 14.7
per cent. Small cars currently feature in five of the top 10 places for the
best selling cars January – September 2001, highlighting the fierce competition
in this segment in the UK marketplace.
Commenting on the figures, SMMT Chief Executive Christopher
Macgowan said, ‘This indicates the motor industry’s commitment to supply excellent
products with outstanding value. Since A&L started this monthly index, we have
seen new cars become greener, safer, more recyclable and better specified than
ever before. Certainly this year’s registration figures would indicate that
consumers know they are on to a good thing with UK dealers’.
