Car trade gears up for September plate change

New '62-plate' vehicles will arrive in dealerships during the next few weeks as the automotive sector prepares for one of its busiest times of the year. Industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) expects around 330,000 new cars to be registered during September, with motorists spending in the region of £4.95 billion on the latest new vehicles.

September is the second biggest month for dealers across the UK and accounts for almost a fifth (17 per cent) of the year’s trade, with the other plate-change month of March traditionally the busiest. More than 300 fuel-efficient, technology-packed models are currently on the market, representing one of the biggest ever choices for UK motorists.

“September is a significant month for the UK motor industry and the wider economy. A strong month for new vehicle registrations will help put both on the right track,” said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive.

“Franchised dealers have a fantastic range of exciting new models on offer, each with enhanced levels of fuel efficiency, safety, comfort and affordable finance.”

Modern cars have achieved high levels of technology; when it comes to fuel efficiency, average new car CO2 emissions are now 138g/km with official miles per gallon figures typically exceeding 50mpg.

Safety – 77 per cent of new cars tested by Euro NCAP in 2011 achieved five stars and in the last 10 years road fatalities have fallen almost 50 per cent.

Security – Theft of vehicles has fallen almost 70 per cent over the past 10 years, while theft from vehicles has also dropped significantly, down over 50 per cent.

Size/type – So far this year, the Supermini segment has proven to be the most popular, accounting for 36.6 per cent of the total market, while Dual Purpose vehicles have enjoyed the largest growth in market share.

Alternative fuels – Market share of alternatively-fuelled vehicles is growing steadily with more hybrid, pure electric and biofuel models available than ever before.

New technology – Digital radio is rapidly becoming the ‘must-have’ option for new car buyers. Over a quarter of new cars have digital radio fitted as standard, as consumers look ahead to the planned 2015 switchover.