Private customers attracted by incentives and low interest rate, says Glass’s

Commenting on the February new car registrations, Steve Jackson, chief car editor, Glass’s, said: “February SMMT registration statistics show private customers have been incentivised back in to the market with low interest rates, deposit incentives and a selection of new models on offer.

“The consumer is the market that the manufactures can currently influence the most to increase volume in the first quarter of 2016. There are no doubts from Glass’s that retail demand will also be the major influencer in the March 2016 figures, the largest new car plate change month of the year.

“Fleet however has fallen marginally by 1.4 per cent during the month and is down 1.2 per cent year to date. Post-recession fleet has returned to pre-recession volumes and now is largely a numbers game. Manufacturers are competing for a share of a finite, yet important market of fixed term contract company car drivers via BIK advantages and financial incentives.”