End March v September registration plate confusion, says Glass’s
Manufacturers should alter their new car sales targets and allow the March plate change to become the “natural” peak month of the year, says vehicle data provider Glass’s.
Manufacturers should alter their new car sales targets and allow the March plate change to become the “natural” peak month of the year, says vehicle data provider Glass’s.
Passenger car registrations in the European Union (excluding Malta) rose for the 16th consecutive month in December 2014, with the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) reporting sales of 951,329 units, which pushed the monthly tally up 4.7 per cent year-on-year. Looking at the largest markets, the demand increase was mainly led by the significant growth recorded in Spain (+21.4%), followed by the UK (+8.7%), Germany (+6.7%), and Italy (+2.4%), while the French market (-6.7%) displayed less activity than in December 2013. Substantial growth also posted by the new EU member states (+9.6%) and by the EFTA countries (+9.8%) contribute to explain last month’s positive outcome.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reports that new car registrations in the UK reached a 10-year high in 2014. During the 12-month period a total of 2,476,435 new cars were registered, the highest number since 2004 and the fourth highest figure ever – only 2002, 2003 and 2004 saw a greater number of cars registered. This 2014 result was 9.3 per cent above 2013 figures and, according to results for January to November 2014, 5.7 per cent ahead of the EU average.
The UK car market continued to grow at a rate far higher than the European average in November. The European Automobile Manufacturers Association, or ACEA, reports that the UK market grew 8.0 per cent year-on-year during the month, contrasting with other major markets such as France, which contracted 2.7 per cent, and Germany, which shrank 1.8 per cent year-on-year. UK growth even outstripped that posted by the EU members that joined the union after 2004; their average year-on-year growth was 5.5 per cent in November. Average growth across the European Union during the month was 1.4 per cent.
SMMT figures reveal that new car registrations jumped 14.2 per cent in October to 179,714 units, marking the 32nd consecutive month of growth. 2,137,910 cars have been registered in the year-to-date – the first time the market has passed two million in October since 2007. Rising demand for alternatively-fuelled vehicles continued, with the market up […]
Registrations of new passenger cars within the European Union were up for the thirteenth month in a row in September. Information published by the ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers Association) shows a 6.1 per cent year-on-year increase in registrations for the month across the combined EU28 and EFTA regions, and a 5.7 per cent rise for the EU15 and EFTA regions.
The SMMT’s new car registration figures for September show that sales were up 5.6 per cent; the biggest September since 2004. The new ‘64’ number plate boosted volumes, with September marking the 31st consecutive month of growth in the new car market.
Figures from ACEA show that, in July, demand for new commercial vehicles in the EU increased by 9.5 per cent. The French market was down by 6.7 per cent, while Germany (+3.4 per cent), Italy (+23.7 per cent), Spain (+24.5 per cent) and the UK (+25.9 per cent) contributed positively to the overall upturn. In […]
Following the SMMT’s publication of new car registration figures for August 2014, the National Franchised Dealers Association has predicted that September, and the newly introduced 64-plate, will bring further increases.
Traditionally a fallow month ahead of the introduction of new plates, August has continued the trend of new car registration growth in the UK. Announcing the figures, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders revealed that 72,163 new cars were registered in August, a 9.4 per cent rise on August 2013 and the 30th consecutive month of growth. Anticipation is now growing for September, usually a far busier month on the back of the plate change.
July registrations figures show that 172,907 new cars were registered in July, according to the SMMT, a rise of 6.6 per cent and the 29th consecutive month of growth. Economic confidence and attractive finance are said to have driven the rejuvenated market up 10.1 per cent year-to-date to 1,460,172 units. As a result of the faster-than-expected first half growth, the SMMT has upped its 2014 market forecast to 2.45 million registrations, up 8.1 per cent on 2013.
During the first six months of 2014, a total of 1,287,265 new cars were registered in the UK. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders says this figure represents 10.6 per cent year-on-year growth and is the best half-year total since 2005. New car registrations rose 6.2 per cent year-on-year in June to 228,291 units. SMMT sees the market as being on track for 2.4 million new car registrations this year, more than six per cent above the 2013 figure.
Demand for the new 14-plate saw March reach 464,824 new car registrations, a rise of 17.7 per cent. Since the move to twice-yearly registration plate changes in 1999, only March 2004 has seen a higher registration figure (at 466,954). Year-to-date registrations were up 13.7 per cent to 688,122 units.
Last month’s UK new car registrations reached levels not seen in a decade, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reports. The month of March is typically the biggest month for registrations in the year, attracting around a fifth of all registrations, but this year demand for the new 14-plate drove new car registrations up 17.7 per cent year-on-year to 464,824, an amount not seen since March 2004, the only other occasion registrations have hit such heights since the twice-yearly plate change was implemented in 1999. Year to date registrations are up 13.7 per cent to 688,122 units. March was also the biggest-ever month for alternatively-fuelled vehicles, with volumes reaching 8,713 units, a growth of 63.8 per cent on 2013.
February new car registrations rose 3.0 per cent to 68,736 units; this means that the UK new car market has achieved 24 consecutive months of growth, increasing 17.4 per cent over the period. The SMMT suggests that rising GDP and growing car registrations signal increasing consumer confidence and automotive retailers are looking forward to March results as expectations rise for a strong 14-plate performance.
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