New car sales in the UK rose 26.4 per cent year on year in February, the eighth consecutive month of growth in the sector.
The most significant growth was in the private sector as buyers took advantage of the scrappage incentive scheme, which will finish at the end of March. There was also growth in the fleet and business sectors.
A total of 68,686 cars were sold in the UK last month and 19.6 per cent of those sold were under scrappage.
The SMMT’s chief executive said a consistent approach to CO2-based taxation from the government and access to affordable credit for buyers were important if sales were to continue to rise.
“Scrappage has generated eight consecutive months of growth in the new car market and we expect its benefits to stretch beyond the scheme’s closure later this month,” he said.
“Industry continues to face challenging market conditions, but positive trends in the fleet and business sectors suggest that negative impacts can be minimised. Strengthening business and consumer confidence remains industry’s priority.
A clear and consistent approach to CO2-based taxation and improved access to affordable credit are essential elements in sustaining recovery in the new car market.”
The UK’s top-selling car last month was Ford Fiesta, followed by the Ford Focus and the Volkswagen Golf.
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Re: UK car sales rise 26.4 per cent
firstly, i personally am a 'product' of thatchers britain, you know, the 'stand on youre own 2 feet, im alright jack' generation-
and as i can feel the venom building here, let it just be said that i did not insult anyone to begin with, and with the fatigue that i feel from the 'we're all doomed' posters that are everywhere, merely vented at scheeles prophecy...
if we were all doomed, it was more likely to be back in sept 08, when the financial markets collapsed....we came through that, we will come thru this.
could it not just be a GOOD thing that car sales increased?
i also agree that the PSBR has to be tackled- it just wasnt the first thing i thought of when i read that car sales had increased.
Re: UK car sales rise 26.4 per cent
Do you ever stop trying to make drama out of nothing in particular?
We could club together for a seat on the next moonshot...
Re: UK car sales rise 26.4 per cent
Spot on, theres a lot of people in here who have NO IDEA how to debate, they throw nasty small minded insults around as soon as the heat is on them and whinge about Trolls and Nazi's with absolutely no sense of irony or clue as to the stupidity they regularly demonstrate.
They are clearly products of the New Labour experiment, the same experiment where there is no responsibilty taken for anything they do or say.
Victims.