Annual registrations of new cars in the UK grew for the fourth consecutive year in 2015 and exceeded 2.6 million units for the first time. Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that the market has posted increases in all bar one of the past 46 months, and a bumper December – up 8.4 per cent and the biggest ever – saw 180,077 new cars registered.
Following October’s decline – the first in 44 months – registrations of new cars in the UK returned to growth in November, according to the latest figures from The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
178,876 cars were registered in the month, an increase of 3.8 per cent over November 2014, while the overall market in the first 11 months of 2015 has seen 6.2 per cent growth to 2,453,426 units.
Devious motorists who turn to car cloning in a bid to outwit police automated number plate recognition (ANPR) systems, are increasingly becoming a menace to law abiding used car owners, warns vehicle history check expert, HPI, provider of the HPI Check. Predominantly, a car is cloned to disguise the identity of a stolen car which is sold on for a quick buck. However, petty criminals are now cloning cars to avoid parking fines and speeding tickets, whilst organised gangs are using them to commit more serious crimes. Increasing numbers of legitimate cars owners are reporting hefty fines they never incurred or have faced unwelcome visits by the police as a result of their vehicle being cloned.
SMMT figures show that new car registrations in the UK reached their highest-ever September total last month. 462,517 cars were registered in September as buyers took advantage of a range of competitive deals on the latest 65-plate, making it the 43rd consecutive month of growth in the market. This marked a rise of 6 per cent for the month and the highest September on record.
Following up today’s release of August new car registration data, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has added country-based statistics showing that England is leading the way from the home nations.
According to figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Britain’s new car market recorded its 42nd consecutive month of growth in August – albeit in one of the year’s quietest months. New car registrations increased 9.6 per cent to 79,060 for the month, taking year-to-date growth to a healthy 6.7 per cent.
From first cars to dream supercars, British motorists are eager to put their personal stamp on their car. Car owners are purchasing personalised number plates to reflect their name or nick name, life status – or simply hide the true age of the vehicle – and they aren’t afraid to spend big bucks to get the desired digits. In fact, the priciest plate ever sold by the DVLA1 was for the number plate ‘25 O’, which sold for a whopping £518,000. The plate was purchased by a Ferrari dealer and is believed to be on a Ferrari 250SWB, once owned by Eric Clapton. However, vehicle provenance check expert, HPI, warns that cars with a plate transfer can often be hiding something sinister.
Vehicle manufacturers chasing higher fuel efficiency, combined with UK road tax incentives to reduce CO2 emissions, have seen turbo charged diesel engines rise rapidly in popularity. While only 11 per cent of UK cars were diesel in 1998, the proportion has risen every year since to nearly 37 per cent today, with a million new diesel registrations each year since 2012, slightly exceeding new petrol vehicles. According to GSF Car Parts, the aftermarket is yet to realise the full potential of the increased demand for turbo hose replacements.
New data from BCA, the UK and Europe’s leading used vehicle marketplace, illustrates the link between rising temperatures and convertible car prices. As summer finally arrives, BCA revealed that average monthly sold prices for convertibles rose by around £250 in June to reach £9,828.
‘Blue is the colour’, according to AA members as it has overtaken silver as the most popular car colour choice. These AA Cars survey results come from an AA Populus poll of 25,810 drivers. AA members’ top choice of car colour for their next car was blue (21 per cent) followed closely by silver (19 per cent), black (18 per cent), and red (14 per cent). Members aged 18-24 top choices are black (29 per cent), blue (17 per cent), and white (15 per cent). Whereas, those aged 65 and over top choices are silver (24 per cent), blue (20 per cent), and red (15 per cent).
Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that registrations of new cars in the UK grew 7.0 per cent in the first half of 2015 to the highest half-year total on record.
Demand for new passenger cars in the European Union increased for the 21st month in a row in May. The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) reports that monthly registrations rose 1.3 per cent year-on-year to 1,109,893 units. This figure is, admittedly, the lowest percentage increase since this period of consecutive growth began.
Figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show a steady 2.4 per cent growth in the UK new car market, accompanied by a strong surge in demand for ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs). A total of 11,842 ULEVs were registered between January and May – a four-fold rise on the 2,838 registrations during the same period last year. The SMMT views this growth as further evidence of UK car buyers’ increasing awareness of the “significant benefits of driving a ULEV, as they look to reduce their running costs and environmental impact.” Motorists can now choose from a range of around 20 ULEVs, compared to just six in 2011.
It has been announced by Digital Radio UK that nearly two-thirds of new cars now come with digital radio as standard, up from just half of new cars a year ago according to SMMT figures.
Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) on the morning the UK heads to the polls underline a robust new car market, with registrations up for the 38th consecutive month in April. Demand rose by 5.1 per cent to 185,778 units – the month’s best performance since 2005. Year-to-date registrations for 2015 are up 6.4 per cent to 920,366.
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