The number of new cars registered in the UK plummeted once again in April, even in comparison with the same month last year, when dealerships were closed to customers for 11 days.
The latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reveal that 119,167 new cars were registered across the UK last month, down 15.8% on April 2021, when sales were impacted by laws surrounding social distancing, which kept dealerships closed until 12 April.
The trade body cites ongoing supply chain problems – chiefly the global shortage of semiconductor components – as the primary factor in the decline.
A knock-on effect of this shortage is that manufacturers have been prioritising the delivery of vehicles to retail customers, given the higher profit margins over fleet vehicles - so while private sales climbed a "modest" 4.8%,
