Private buyers drive up March registrations
- New car registrations up 1.5 per cent in March to 408,024 units
- Year to date shows 2.2 per cent increase
- Demand from private buyers up 17.2 per cent
Commenting on the figures Christopher Macgowan, SMMT Chief Executive, said
‘This record month clearly indicates the turnaround in the UK car market. The
dramatic rise in private buyers reflects the confidence that consumers have
in the franchised dealer network’.
‘European car sales have fallen by an average of four per cent this year but
the UK new car market has remained buoyant, growing some 2.2 per cent year to
date,’ he added.
Notes to editors
- New car sales have risen continually for the last six months in the UK.
- Private registrations accounted for 54 per cent of the market in March,
up from 39.7 per cent in February. - March sees the last of the old style number plate changes before the new
system is implemented in September 2001. - Forecast for 2001 total registrations remains 2,250,000.
March 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.