New '62-plate' vehicles will arrive in dealerships during the next few weeks as the automotive sector prepares for one of its busiest times of the year. Industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) expects around 330,000 new cars to be registered during September, with motorists spending in the region of £4.95 billion on the latest new vehicles.
Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show that coach and bus registrations for July were up – the 10th consecutive month in which the figures rose.
The UK commercial vehicle market for July proved extremely buoyant, with new registrations up 8.1 per cent over July 2011, reaching 22,353. Van registrations rose 10.2 per cent to 18,913 units in July, and the rolling year figure was stable (-0.1 per cent), with 248,452 registrations.
"New car sales increased again in July with a boost to private registrations of 26.4 per cent" said Sue Robinson, Director of the RMI National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers across the UK, commenting on the SMMT’s new car registration figures.
HPI, the vehicle information expert, warns that there could be up to 10.4 million cars with a hidden history on the UK's roads. This follows news from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) that there has been a 9 per cent increase in cars in the UK to 31,362,716. With 1 in 3 cars hitting HPI's 'at risk' registers the SMMT figures suggest that the nearly new and second hand car market is a minefield for buyers.
"It is very encouraging that new car sales increased again in June with a boost to private registrations of 9.8 per cent said Sue Robinson, Director of the RMI National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers across the UK, commenting on the SMMT's new car registration figures, which show month on month sales were up 3.5 per cent compared to June last year.
The UK van and truck market for June was stable, according to figures from the SMMT, down just 0.4 per cent.
At 22,287 registrations, the van sector was down 2.5 per cent for the month, year on year (-10.1 per cent for the year to date), but truck registrations remained strong and rose 14.7 per cent, with 3,577 registrations during June. Year to date, the truck market has risen 26.0 per cent.
Chancellor George Osborne's plans to raise duty on fuel prices by 3.02 pence per litre at the beginning of August have been subject to a storm of protest from all sectors of the automotive industry.
Hello tyre label, and welcome. As of this week, the roll out of the European tyre label begins in earnest as manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers count down the final four months before its compulsory implementation.
At the General Assembly of the international association for parts distributors, FIGIEFA, held on 24 May in Brussels, president of the German association GVA, Hartmut Rohl, was unanimously voted (with 34 votes) to the position of Figiefa president for the second time. He takes over from Michel Vilatte of FEDA (France) who was elected to the vice-president’s role with 30 votes. IAAF chief executive Brian Spratt was elected as Figiefa’s new treasurer with 31 votes.
"It is encouraging that new truck and van sales increased in May with the overall market up 10 per cent in comparison to the same month last year” said Sue Robinson, Director of the RMI National Franchised Dealers Association which represents commercial vehicle and franchised car retailers across the UK, commenting on the SMMT’s van and truck registration figures. Robinson continued "Van sales improved in May, for the first time in 2012, up 6.7 per cent.
Regional car registration figures for the month of April, released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, show a wide variation across the UK. While England, Scotland and Wales showed an increase (the latter posting an impressive gain of 7.37 per cent), registrations in Northern Ireland were down -5.38 per cent.
"It is encouraging that new car sales increased in April with private registrations continuing to improve" said Sue Robinson, Director of the RMI National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers across the UK, commenting on the SMMT's new car registration figures.
"Car production held firm in March contributing to 12.3 per cent growth during the first quarter of 2012. Challenging economic conditions in mainland Europe are a concern, but the sector continues to win business in important and faster growing export markets,'' said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. "The prospects for the UK motor industry are extremely good with new investment, commitment and jobs being created by global automotive companies.''
"The increase in retail car sales highlights the early signs of a more stable market" said Sue Robinson, Director of the RMI National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers across the UK, commenting on the SMMT’s new car registration figures.
New car sales figures show month on month sales were up 1.8 per cent compared to March last year. Private registrations showed one of the best monthly increases in the past two years, up 7.4 per cent in March.
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