Cars Registrations

October new car registrations up as market stabilises

04 November 2011 #Cars #Registrations
  • New car registrations rose by 2.6% in October to 134,944 units, the second increase in three months.
  • New car registrations over the first 10 months of 2011 were down 4.5%, at 1,688,038 units.
  • Market on track to achieve full year total of 1.923 million units, but caution remains over 2012.

“October’s new car market rose 2.6% on last year – a positive result despite the uncertain economic climate,” said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. “Vehicle manufacturers and their dealer networks are working hard to offer consumers value for money through improved fuel efficiency, low running costs and innovative finance. We expect market conditions to remain challenging and hope the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement later this month will help to boost economic growth and consumer confidence.”

 

October Total Diesel Petrol AFV Private Fleet Business
2011 134,944 72,107 61,248 1,589 55,043 73,712 6,189
2010 131,495 71,879 58,106 1,510 57,520 68,333 5,642
% change 2.6% 0.3% 5.4% 5.2% -4.3% 7.9% 9.7%
Mkt share ’11 53.4% 45.4% 1.2% 40.8% 54.6% 4.6%
Mkt share ’10 54.7% 44.2% 1.1% 43.7% 52.0% 4.3%
Year-to-date Total Diesel Petrol AFV Private Fleet Business
2011 1,688,038 846,444 820,139 21,455 723,532 876,640 87,866
2010 1,767,154 799,732 947,701 19,721 841,570 839,788 85,796
% change -4.5% 5.8% -13.5% 8.8% -14.0% 4.4% 2.4%
Mkt share ’11 50.1% 48.6% 1.3% 42.9% 51.9% 5.2%
Mkt share ’10 45.3% 53.6% 1.1% 47.6% 47.5% 4.9%
 

 
Best sellers October Year-to-date
1 Fiesta 7,308 1 Fiesta 84,506
2 Corsa 6,300 2 Focus 72,875
3 Focus 5,203 3 Corsa 67,259
4 Golf 4,400 4 Golf 54,413
5 Astra 4,159 5 Astra 53,201
6 3 Series 3,664 6 Insignia 41,309
7 Polo 3,289 7 Polo 39,944
8 Insignia 2,923 8 3 Series 37,314
9 Qashqai 2,789 9 Qashqai 33,552
10 Jazz 2,472 10 MINI 30,305

 

 

Gain in October is welcome, but outlook remains uncertain

  • New car registrations rose for the second time in the past year in October. The 2.6% growth saw the market up 3,449 units to 134,944. This was almost 7% and nearly 9,000 units ahead of SMMT’s forecast for the month, but volumes remain almost 20% off the level recorded in 2007, prior to recession. October looks set to account for 7% of annual volumes, on par with the average share recorded from 1999-2010.
  • Registrations in the last three months have increased by 0.9% versus 2010, whilst over the last six months they were down 1.5%. This period of relative stability follows a weak start to the year that has left registrations over the year-to-date down 4.5% to 1,688,038 units.
  • Registrations in October were buoyed by a sharp recovery in the small car markets, with the Supermini segment up 17.4% and the Mini segment up 4.7%. The Dual Purpose segment also rose on the back of new model launches.
  • The Ford Fiesta was the best selling model in both October and over the year-to-date.
  • The VW Golf was the best selling diesel model in October. Demand for diesel and alternatively fuelled cars was stable during the month, whilst petrol cars – helped by growth in small car segments – picked up.
  • SMMT’s sales type data showed the fleet market grew in the month, whilst the fall in private volumes was less pronounced than in previous months.
  • The market remains on track to achieve SMMT’s full year forecast of 1.923 million units. The market is expected to be stable in 2012, at 1.96 million units. Consumer confidence remains fragile and forecasts for UK GDP growth have been revised down. Like others, we look to government to shore up confidence and unlock growth, notably through the Autumn Statement due on 29 November.

Click through to download the full October 2011 new car registrations news release and data tables.

 

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