UK new car registrations for 2006 meet SMMT forecast
* December new car registrations down 14.7 per cent to 133,810 units
* Full year volumes down 3.9 per cent to 2,344,864 units
* Diesel registrations up 0.1 per cent to hit record volume of 898,521 units
* Ford Focus tops annual best sellers for past eight years
‘2006 was by no means an easy year for the motor industry and the fall in new car registrations comes as no surprise. Uncertainty, fuelled by factors like interest rate rises, political instability and fuel price fluctuations conspired to make the market place a difficult one,’ said SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan.
‘Although we can expect another tough 12 months ahead, that is not to say that it is all doom and gloom – 2007 promises a host of new models along with the potential for attractive showroom offers to tempt the buyer.’
