We bought less new cars last year but we’re still buying a lot of cars. A total of 2,540,617 new registrations were recorded between 1 January and 31 December 2017, 5.7 per cent less than a year earlier. Presenting its registration figures for 2017, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) notes that while this was the first decrease in six years, in 2017 annual registrations were at the third-highest level within the past decade.
The UK new car market declined for a sixth consecutive month in September, with 426,170 new units registered, according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Registrations fell by -9.3 per cent in this key month, as economic and political uncertainty, and confusion over air quality plans led to a fall in consumer confidence.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has reported a fifth consecutive month of decline in the UK new car market. August registrations fell -6.4 per cent, following 2016’s record August. The SMMT remained sanguine about the decline, pointing out that, at 76,433 new cars registered, it is still the third-best August in 10 years. The year-to-date has remained broadly in line with full-year expectations, down 2.4 per cent, with 1,640,241 new cars joining British roads in the first eight months.
Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) today show that the UK new car market has declined for a third consecutive month. A total of 243,454 new cars were registered in June, and while this figure represents a decline, registrations fell at a slower pace than in the previous two months, by 4.8 per cent, as demand continued to stabilise following a record first quarter and the subsequent market turbulence caused by the recent changes to Vehicle Excise Duty. The SMMT adds that the market is now “more in line” with 2017 forecasts.
After hitting record peaks in 2016 and early 2017, the UK’s new car market saw a significant decline in May. New passenger car registrations declined 8.5 per cent, with a total of 186,265 units. In 2017 overall, the market is 0.6 per cent lower than last year, with more than 1.1 million cars registered between January and May. Alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) continued their impressive 2017 growth in May, 46.7 per cent higher than in 2016, with a total of 8,258 AFVs registered making 47,936 so far this year. The National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) argued that the general election’s short-term impact on consumer confidence has been the key factor, and that medium term prospects remain good for another record-setting year. However KPMG analysts were more taciturn, suggesting car manufacturers have turned their attentions to Europe and expecting a steady decline in 2017.
New car registration figures published by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) show that a total of 1,191,034 units were registered in the EU in April 2017, 6.6 per cent less than the year before. Most major markets saw a decrease: the UK’s market dropped by 19.8 per cent, followed by Germany (-8.0 per cent), France (-6.0 per cent), and Italy (-4.6 per cent). Among the largest markets only Spain grew by 1.1 per cent.
Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show that the UK new car market experienced a significant decline in April, following exceptional growth in the previous month as buyers brought forward purchases ahead of the switch to new VED rates, which came into force on 1 April 2017. The figures show that 152,076 new cars were registered in April, a -19.8 per cent decline.
Exports continued to drive British car manufacturing in March, as demand rose 10.6 per cent in the month, according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). A total of 170,691 cars were built in the UK last month, up 7.3 per cent, with overseas buyers ordering more than 76 per cent of output. The month’s output exceeds that of March 2000, when 183,787 cars were built in the UK.
March 2017 car registrations in the European Union reached 1,891,583 units in March 2017 according to figures published by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), continuing the upward trend seen in the first quarter of the year.
The UK new car market grew by 8.4 per cent in March. A total of 562,337 new cars were registered during the month, an amount that, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), is the highest monthly figure since records began. Registrations reached new heights as buyers seized the chance to buy cars before the new vehicle excise duty (VED) rates came into force. Under the new system implemented on 1 April, all new cars (except for those with zero emissions) are subject to an annual flat rate charge.
The UK new car market remained steady in February, dipping just -0.3 per cent, according to figures released by SMMT. 83,115 vehicles were registered in traditionally one of the quietest months of the year ahead of the number plate change in March. Fleets drove the market, with 45,699 cars registered, up 3.3 per cent, while private demand fell -4.4 per cent to 36,018 units and business registrations declined -5.3 per cent to 1,398.
January proved a positive start to the year for new car registrations in the European Union, with the market growing 10.2 per cent year on year. A total of 1,170,220 cars were registered in the EU last month; among the major markets, Spain (+10.7%), France (+10.6%), Germany (+10.5%) and Italy (+10.1%) recorded very strong performances in January, while the UK passenger car market also grew, albeit at more modest rate, increasing 2.9 per cent year-on-year to 174,564 units.
The UK new car market will fall by around 3.5 per cent next year to around 2.6 million cars, predicts Glass’s. However, while the figure looks disappointing in isolation, the vehicle data provider points out that this will still be higher than any year in the last decade except 2016.
Commenting on the SMMT figures for November Chris Bosworth, director of strategy at Close Brothers Motor Finance, said: “[The] new registration figures from the SMMT indicates that the automotive sector is poised to end 2016 with record sales, with transactions for the year surpassing 2.5 million for the first time. This is a significant milestone, and proof that the sector has remained buoyant despite the uncertainty created by the vote for Brexit.
184,101 new cars were registered in the UK this November, with the market increasing by a steady 2.9 per cent, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The growth has helped deliver more than 2.5 million new cars on to British roads so far this year – the first time the milestone has been reached in November.
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