The UK new car market has posted its longest uninterrupted period of expansion for eight years, as registrations grew 16.7 per cent in May to reach 145,204 units, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The performance marks 10 consecutive months of growth, although registrations remain -21.0 per cent below pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
The UK new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market grew for the third consecutive month in March, rising by 17.3 per cent to 47,634 units, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Traditionally a large volume month due to the new number plate, the growth was amplified by comparison with a weak March last year, when chronic supply chain shortages drove the market down by -27.6 per cent.
UK new car registrations in March bounced back by 18.2 per cent to deliver the best ‘new plate month’ performance since before the pandemic, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The increase saw 287,825 units delivered, the eighth consecutive month of growth for the new car market, as supply chain challenges slowly continue to ease. As a result, the first quarter of 2023 is the strongest since 2019, with just under half a million new cars joining the road.
The UK new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market grew for the second consecutive month in February, rising by 8.5 per cent to 17,540 units, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). While February is traditionally a volatile month due to small volumes as many operators delay procurements until March and the new number plate, the increase marks the best February performance since 1998, the year before the bi-annual plate change was introduced.
UK new car registrations grew by 26.2 per cent in February as 74,441 new cars joined Britain’s roads, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). While February is typically low volume ahead of the March plate change, this year it marked the seventh month of consecutive growth as easing supply chain shortages steered the market closer to pre-pandemic levels, down just -6.5 per cent on the same month in 2020.
UK new light commercial vehicle (LCV) registrations grew to 22,098 units in January, a year-on-year increase of 25.8 per cent, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The growth represents the first rise in new LCV registrations since the September plate change last year, and while full year growth is expected in 2023, January is traditionally a volatile month due to the intermittent nature of fleet renewal, with this year -6.2 per cent below pre-pandemic January 2020.
The UK new car market grew 14.7 per cent in January to reach 131,994 units, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), setting the tone for an anticipated countercyclical year of growth. This was the best start to the year since January 2020’s pre-Covid 149,279 units and is the sixth successive month of expansion.
As is being reported around the world with varying levels of schadenfreude, last year UK car production reached its lowest level since 1956. A total of 775,014 cars were produced in the UK in 2022, 40.5 per cent below 2019 figures and way under half the record production of 1,971,311 achieved half a century ago. The SMMT strives to highlight the positive news within this result, and stresses that production of electric vehicles reached a new record during 2022.
Grey is officially the nation’s favourite new car ‘colour’ for the fifth year in a row, with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reporting that 25.7 per cent of UK buyers chose the shade in 2022. Some 415,199 grey cars were registered last year, up 1.7 per cent, while black and white took second and third place overall, completing a monochrome podium.
The UK new car market grew 23.5 per cent in November to 142,889 registered units in the fourth consecutive month of year-on-year growth, according to new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The growth delivered the best total for November since 2019, with manufacturers continuing efforts to fulfil orders amid erratic global components supply. However, registrations in the month were still -8.8 per cent below 2019 levels and, while further recovery is anticipated in 2023, global and domestic economic challenges mean that the market will remain below pre-pandemic levels.
The UK’s new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market fell by -22.2 per cent in November, with 24,352 of the latest vans joining Britain’s roads, according to the latest data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). While the scale of the decline is artificially inflated in comparison with last year, which saw the best November performance in history, the total is the lowest recorded for the month since 2013, and is some -13.9 per cent below the pre-pandemic five-year average.
The UK’s used car market fell for the second consecutive quarter this year, with the SMMT reporting a 12.2% decline over the three months of July to September. Some 1,785,447 vehicles changed hands, the first time that quarter three transactions have dipped below two million since 2015, as semiconductor shortages impacted supply of stock. Year to date sales are now down 9.7% to 5,319,482.
The UK’s new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market fell by -18.4 per cent in October, with 22,386 of the latest vans joining Britain’s roads. Despite robust demand, registrations were at the lowest level for October since 2012, and some -16.5 per cent below the pre-pandemic five-year average, as supply shortages continue to restrict global production and availability.
The UK new car market recorded a third month of growth in October, with registrations rising by more than a quarter (26.4 per cent) to 134,344 units, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Fulfilment of strong order books helped deliver the bounce-back, although the increase follows a particularly disappointing October 2021 when deliveries fell by -24.6 per cent. In the year to date, the market is down -5.6 per cent on the same period in 2021, but still a third below pre-Covid levels.
The light commercial vehicle (LCV) market grew by 10.8 per cent to 34,950 units in September – a popular month due to the plate change. Despite strong order books throughout 2022, September is the first month of growth in registrations this year, as supply disruptions have restricted model availability. The SMMT warned that this performance is artificially inflated versus 2021; this September remains -35.5 per cent below the five-year pre-pandemic average.
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