New car registrations fell 8.9 per cent year-on-year in September – but the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) is confident the market has now stabilised.
The SMMT claims September 2010’s 335,246 units registered compares favourably to a scrappage-fuelled September 2009 and the market remains up 7.8 per cent over the year-to-date with 1,635,659 units being registered in total.
The SMMT also believes 2010 will end up slightly up on last year’s registrations at just over two million units.
Chief executive Paul Everitt has called on the government’s forthcoming comprehensive spending review to boost consumer confidence.
“Despite an 8.9 per cent fall in September registrations, demand for new cars has stabilised and will end 2010 slightly up on last year," he said. “It is important that alongside government’s austerity measures, the comprehensive spending review signals a strong growth agenda to boost consumer and business confidence.”
The UK’s top selling car in September was the Ford Fiesta, followed by the Vauxhall’s Astra and Corsa models. The Ford Focus was the UK’s fourth-best selling car last month ahead of the Vauxhall Insignia, VW Golf, Mini hatchback, Peugeot 207, Ford Mondeo and BMW 1-series.
