Cars Registrations SMMT News

Near record May exceeds expectations

05 June 2003 #Cars #Registrations #SMMT News

  • Diesel demand accounted for 26.5 per cent of May registrations, up 6.6 per cent
  • Supermini registrations rose 5.4 per cent to 380,451 units year-to-date
  • Second highest May despite 4.1 per cent ease to 200,059 units

Commenting on the new car registrations data, SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan said, ‘In a fiercely competitive market, sales remain stable despite a slight decline on extraordinary figures in 2002. May delivered convincing results and is the second highest on record. The market is above expectation, with small cars still driving volume to a predicted year end total of 2.45 million units.’

Notes to editors

1. New car registrations in the UK are expected to reach 2.45 million units in 2003. This will make 2003 the third highest total on record. In 2002 registrations hit 2,563,631 units and 2,458,769 in 2001.

2. Diesel penetration is expected to reach 29 per cent of overall sales in 2003, or 710,000 units. In 2002 the diesel market share reached 23.5 per cent or 602,623 units, with 2001 at 436,591 units or 17.8 per cent market share.

3. Superminis accounted for 34.4 per cent of the market, up from 31.7 per cent in 2002, adding 19,380 units to total registrations.

May 2003

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.

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