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New car sales rise again in February
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(
08/03/2013 ) |
Sales of new cars rose by 7.9 per cent in February for the 12th month in succession.
A total of 66,749 vehicles were sold last month according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The strong figures brought the year-to-date total to 210,392, a 10.3 per cent increase in purchases by UK motorists and car insurance policy holders in 2013.
Mike Baunton, the interim chief executive of SMMT, has explained his organisation's figures to the Press Association, saying, "UK new car registrations have risen every month for the last year with February continuing the trend.
"However, February is traditionally a low-volume month as motorists look forward to the plate change in March, but attractive new car deals are sustaining the market. New models are delivering ever greater fuel efficiency, practicality, refinement, technology and predictable ownership costs, so motorists are seeing the benefit of new car purchases."
Growth in the private car market was the strongest it has been since the government ended its Scrappage Scheme and continues to outperform the rest of the European market.
Registrations of mini-sector cars rose strongest in February, up 135.7 per cent compared with last month. Supermini vehicles also continued to be the most popular type of new car in Britain, accounting for 35.6 per cent of all sales.
Ford cars were responsible for 15 per cent of all those sold in the UK, with the Focus and Fiesta the two most popular purchases. The Vauxhall Corsa was the third most bought car in February, with the Volkswagen Golf and Vauxhall Astra coming fourth and fifth respectively.
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