SMMT histogram
New car registration figures from the Society of the Motoring Manufacturer's Trade Association were up 10.8% in June and 19.9% during first half of 2010. There was also an encouraging 25.3% rise in the fleet market that has helped to sustain growth momentum. The entire market is up despite the end of the scrappage scheme but there's a warning that volumes are set to slip in the second half of 2010.
The figures supplied to DriveWire by SMMT are as follows:
New car registrations climbed by 19.9% in the first half of 2010, up by over 180,000 to 1.1 million units. Volumes in the latest quarter were up 11.8%.
June 2010 recorded the 12th successive monthly increase, despite just 0.7% of registrations coming from the scrappage scheme, compared with 19.2% during the same period last year. This June was 16% above the level forecast by SMMT in April, but was 8.5% off the 1999-2009 average.
The fleet market rebounded in June, up 25.3% on the volume recorded a year earlier, whilst business volumes rose by 18.4%. Private demand was almost unchanged, down 3.3%. Over the first half of the year private demand has shown the largest rise, up 24.6%, boosted by the scrappage scheme. The scheme closed to new orders in March.
Alternatively fuelled vehicle (AFV) registrations matched their largest ever market share, at 1.2% in June. AFV volumes rose by 157.4% in the month and have grown by over 150% in four of the past six months. The rise in diesel sales helped sustain total market growth. The Nissan Qashqai was the best selling diesel in June.
The Vauxhall Astra was the best selling model in June, its first number one slot since February 2008. Ford‘s Fiesta had the highest registrations over the first half of 2010.
With the exception of the mini and executive segments, growth was evident across the board. The strongest rises were in the MPV, luxury saloon and lower medium sectors.
The new car market has continued to perform above expectations in June, with fleet sector registrations up 25% compared to this time last year. The results would appear to indicate improved business confidence and a strengthening economic recovery but the encouraging stats come with a warning.
Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive predicts “The industry still expects challenging economic conditions in the second half of the year and government action to improve access to credit for consumers and businesses will be important in sustaining the momentum of recovery.”
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