U.K. Car Sales See 12th Straight Month of Growth

With sales again boosted by private demand, U.K. new cars rose 7.9% to 66,749 units in February, pushing the year-to-date results up 10.3% to 210,392.

Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders interim CEO Mike Baunton says car sales have risen for 12 consecutive months, spurred by the highest increase in private-consumer demand since spring 2010.

“However, February is traditionally a low-volume month as motorists look forward to the (license-) plate-change in March, but attractive new-car deals are sustaining the market,” Baunton says in a statement.

“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.”

SMMT predicts March sales to slightly exceed last year’s 372,835 units.

The February increase was on par with the average growth of the past three months and more than the 6.4% average posted in the previous 12 months.

SMMT says given the restrained U.K. economy, growth likely will result from market-specific factors, notably replacement demand being enticed through attractive deals and offers on new, more efficient cars.

The Ford Focus was the best-selling model in February with 3,853 units, ahead of Ford’s Fiesta (3,665) and Vauxhall Corsa (3,214).

The Fiesta also was the 2-month leader with 11,561 deliveries, followed by the Focus (9,647 units) and Vauxhall Corsa (8,392).

Commercial-vehicle sales rose 5% in February to 11,336 units, pushing the year-to-date total up 5.4% to 30,267.

Van deliveries grew 11.8% to 9,149 units for a 2-month total of 25,198. Truck sales fell 16.3% to 2,187, down 18.2% to 5,069 compared with year-ago.

SMMT Commercial Vehicle Manager Nigel Base says the CV segment’s good start to 2013 continued into February, but it’s a complex picture.

“The truck market declined 16%, perhaps as owners and operators adjust buying decisions ahead of key landmarks in the year – this month's (government) budget, the CV Show in April and introduction of Euro 6 (emissions) legislation at the end of the year,” he says.