Double digit rise in August car sales
In the UK, August is traditionally a slow month for sales of new cars, as people hold on for the change of registration plate which happens in September, with only around three per cent of sales during the month. September, by contrast, typically accounts for over 17 per cent of full year registrations.
Despite this, sales for August were up 10.9 per cent year on year, at 65,937 units – this is the fifth successive month of double digit growth, pushing the year to date market up 10.4 per cent, to 1,391,788 units.
Said Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, “UK car registrations have now risen consecutively for a year and a half. Private and fleet buyers are clearly capitalising on attractive deals and new technologies against a background of increasing economic confidence. [August’s] 10.9 per cent rise bodes well for the new 63 plate.”
Sue Robinson, Director of the National franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) agreed, describing the August figures as “encouraging”.
She went on: “This month’s NFDA Dealer Attitude Survey recorded an improvement in manufacturer/dealer relationships over recent months. With the significant boost to new car registrations during 2013 and the return of consumers to showrooms, the increase in scores could partly be due to improved dealer profitability due to the recovering economy.”
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