New car sales rise is driven by private buyers
- New car market up 1.5 per cent in January to 187,908 units
- Private sales rise by more than 28 per cent to 87,062 units ·
- Fleet and business sales dip after strong showing in December
Commenting on the figures, SMMT Chief Executive Christopher Macgowan said,
‘For the fourth month in a row we have seen a rise in new car sales fuelled
by the private sector. Buyers continue to benefit from stronger competition
than ever with lower prices, better-specified cars and longer warranties.
‘January’s registration figures are just the latest in a string of good news
for the motor industry – and long may that continue’, he added.
Notes to editors
- New car sales in the final quarter of 2000 were the strongest on record.
- Private sales took 46 per cent of the market last month compared to 37 per
cent in January 2000. - Fleet and business sales, which rose by more than 18 per cent in December
2000, fell by just over 14 per cent in January 2001.
January 2001
The attached tables show the registration figures for Great Britain, Northern
Ireland, The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands in detail. Top performers by
range and UK penetration figures are also listed. Providing the SMMT is acknowledged
as the source of this information, the figures may be quoted. Substantial reproduction
needs specific approval by the SMMT.
