The arrival of new models and ongoing financial incentives helped initially to sustain UK demand in the month, but the introduction of a ‘firebreak’ lockdown in Wales on 23 October contributed to the nation recording 25.5% fewer registrations by the end of the month, which accounted for more than half of the overall UK decline.
New car sales declined by 97.3% in April with 4,321 units registered. Year to date, the market is down -43.4%. In April, fleet orders took a market share of 71.5%. Year to date, sales of battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles remain above last year’s levels.
Latest figures from the SMMT saw September sales grow by 4,421 over the same month last year which recorded a substantial 20.5% decline in 2018 when new emissions regulations and lack of testing capacity across Europe affected supply.
Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that demand fell in both the private and business sectors, with registrations down -2.8% and -44.8% respectively, while fleet demand was stable, up 0.3%.
A small jump in sales during February was partly fuelled by an increase in demand for alternatively fuelled vehicles, up 34.0% and marking the 22nd consecutive month of growth for the segment.
Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show annual registrations falling for a second year to 2,367,147 units with a 5.5% decline in December capping a difficult year.
