Cars

Just 328,041 cars registered – the lowest September volume recorded since 1999.
Decline represents -15.8% drop on 10-year September average.
New 70-plate, model upgrades and attractive offers help but industry still counting cost of lockdown with more than 615,000-unit year to date shortfall.

New car registrations decline -5.8% during traditionally quiet pre-plate change month. Private car demand remains relatively steady, down -1.7%, with 699 fewer registrations, but fleet and business purchases drop by more substantial -5.5% and -57.9% respectively. Sales of zero emission-capable…

Pent-up demand sees UK new car registrations rally in July with 11.3% increase to 174,887 vehicles, as dealerships across the nation fully re-open.
Overall registrations currently down -41.9% YTD and expected to be -30.0% down by end of 2020, totalling £20bn in lost sales.
Manufacturer offers help encourage demand but economic uncertainty could put the brakes on recovery.

Tentative restart for UK’s new car market in June yields 145,377 registrations, a -34.9% decline reflecting uncertain economic confidence and delayed re-opening of Welsh and Scottish showrooms.
Almost quarter of a million sales to private buyers now lost since lockdown, at a cost of £1.1bn to the Treasury in VAT receipts.
Year to date registrations down -48.5%, with just 653,502 new cars joining British roads in first six months – the lowest level since 1971.

UK new car market falls -89.0% in May as shutdown goes on, with just over 20,000 vehicles delivered.
‘Click and collect’ services help but market still 163,477 units behind same month last year.
Market down more than -51% in first five months, as showrooms get green light to re-open.

UK new car market falls by precipitous -97.3% in April as coronavirus crisis shuts showrooms.
4,321 new cars registered in the month as deliveries continue to frontline workers and organisations.
Latest SMMT outlook expects 1.68 million new car registrations this year, the lowest since 1992.
Sector calls for auto retail to be in first wave of re-openings, to drive manufacturing and kick-start economic recovery.

UK new car registrations fall -44.4% in March as coronavirus crisis causes showrooms to close.
Steeper fall than during last financial crisis and worst March since late nineties with some 203,370 fewer cars sold in the month.
Early SMMT analysis downgrades 2020 outlook to 1.73 million units, -23% lower than previous expectation.
Sector re-deploys to help front line workers battle crisis with hundreds of vehicles now supporting critical services across the UK.

UK new car market declines -2.9% in February to 79,594, as demand from private buyers falls again.
Good month for battery electric and plug-in hybrid electric cars, with 4,566 joining UK roads but, at just 5.8%, market share remains low.
Industry urges Chancellor to help more drivers go electric – as new calculations show removal of VAT alone would boost sales to nearly 1 million over the next five years.

UK new car registrations fall -7.3% in January as private and fleet demand declines, down -13.9% and -2.2% respectively.
Registrations of battery electric cars continue to grow, with a year-on-year uplift of 2,720 units, as plug-in hybrids and hybrids also enjoy record demand.
Industry calls for extensive package of incentives to accelerated match 2035 zero-emission transport ambitions – including long-term commitment to the Plug-in Car Grant.

Grey remains UK’s favourite new car colour after taking top spot for first time in 2018.
60.7% of new cars registered in grey, black or white – with a primary colour not making the podium since 2010.
In 1999 blue was top of the charts, today it’s down to fourth as silver falls to its lowest level in 20 years.