Analysts have commented on the “unsurprising” news that UK new car sales have plummeted to depths not seen for 70 years in April. Automotive industry observers at Deloitte and KPMG looked to the future, suggesting cautiously that the reopening of showrooms could provide opportunities for consumers, while suggesting that sales digitisation could be important for dealers.
Occasional driving remains a necessity for two thirds of British motorists, even as traffic dwindles under the impact of social confinement rules, according to new research.
Following the news that the European light vehicle market declined by an unprecedented 47 per cent in March, Calum MacRae, automotive analyst at data and analytics company GlobalData, offers his view: “The picture for Europe closely mirrors that of the UK with sales finishing 47 per cent down in March compared with last year’s totals.
Following the new and tighter EU CO2 emissions rules for cars sold in Europe coming into effect in 2020, David Leggett, automotive editor at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, said that the European industry will find 2020 “another hugely competitive year”, with increased complexity, due to car-makers factoring in “push and pull for models according to new EU CO2 fleet average rules.” Leggett continues, “They will be attempting to keep exposure to potentially very hefty fines as low as possible.”
UK new car registrations declined -6.7 per cent last month, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 10,348 fewer cars were registered than in October last year, reflecting a tough environment for businesses and consumers as economic and political uncertainty continued to impact confidence.
SMMT figures show that the UK new car market remained steady in August, with just 1,521 fewer cars registered than in the same month last year. Registrations fell by -1.6 per cent in what is typically one of the smallest months of the year, as falling demand for diesel and plug-in hybrid vehicles continued to impact the overall market.
UK new car registrations declined for a fourth consecutive month in June, with year-on-year demand falling by -4.9 per cent to 223,421 units, according to the latest figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 1,269,245 new cars joined British roads in the first half of the year, down -3.4 per cent as ongoing confusion over low emission zones and diesel, the removal of key ultra low emission vehicle incentives and an overall decline in buyer confidence affected the market.
Dealers have increased new car discounts by more than 10 per cent since February, in a bid to maintain sales. The move equates to savings of £16.8 million off manufacturer list prices across the market, according to the latest research by Britain’s leading consumer champion and new car buying platform, What Car?
Britons buying new cars this March are a sensible bunch, according to a new Opinium survey, mostly diligently researching cars before picking one; however, it also found plenty of people swayed by emotional factors from how good a car looks to whether it had that new car ‘look and feel’.
New passenger car registrations declined by -1.6 per cent in January with 161,013 units registered. Sales of petrol cars rose by 7.3 per cent, diesel declined -20.3 per cent and alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) grew by 26.3 per cent. Private demand increased by 2.9 per cent, while fleet was down -3.4 per cent.
UK electric car registrations continue to set records, as latest figures place the total number of new 100 per cent electric and plug-in hybrid cars registered last year at 59,911, making it the most successful year for electric cars to date.
The UK new car market declined by -6.8 per cent in 2018, with annual registrations falling for a second year to 2,367,147 units, according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). A -5.5 per cent decline in December capped a turbulent year of model changes, regulatory upheaval and continued anti-diesel policies, adding to the ongoing decline in consumer and business confidence.
The growing strength of the automotive relationship between the UK and South Korea has been highlighted today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) during its trade mission to the country.
A new guide for dealers has been created by the Independent Motor Dealers Association to spread best practice for the advertising of ex-daily rental and ex-fleet vehicles. The six-page document has been written with the help and support of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), which created consternation among dealers when the ASA upheld an appeal hearing by a consumer concerning two Alfa Romeo Giuliettas.
Commenting on the SMMT car registration figures, Sue Robinson, Director of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle dealers in the UK, said: “Despite June’s decline, it was encouraging to see that in the second quarter the new car market was 2.3 per cent higher than last year”.
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