U.K. Sales Beat 2012 Result With Month to Spare

U.K. new-car sales soar past the 2012 result with a month to spare as November deliveries jump 7.0% to 159,581 units, the month’s best performance since 2004.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders says the 11-month total was up 9.9% to 2,111,819 units, well clear of the 2,044,609 deliveries in 2012.

The SMMT is forecasting the full-year total will come in at 2.25 million units.

SMMT CEO Mike Hawes says the result is a tremendous success for the industry on the back of buoyant consumer confidence and innovative new products.

“With the U.K. economy looking increasingly positive, we can expect strong underlying demand for new cars to continue into 2014, with volumes set to match or surpass those seen this year,” Hawes says in a statement.

The Ford Fiesta continued its market domination in November with 8,796 sales, ahead of the Ford Focus (5,298) and Vauxhall Astra (5,077).

The Fiesta’s 11-month total of 113,417 units put it comfortably ahead of the Focus (81,791) and Vauxhall Corsa (77,861).

Ultra-low-emissions vehicles with carbon-dioxide emissions under 75 g/km, now comprising only all-electric cars, account for one of every 10 alternatively fueled vehicles so far in 2013, up from one in 20 in 2011. New-model introductions and more competitive pricing have helped ULEV volumes rise 56.1% from prior-year.

Alternatively fueled vehicles made up 1.4% of the new car market in the first 11 months as deliveries rose 16.4% to 30,496 units.

The SMMT says a boost in ULEV sales is anticipated following the launch in 2014 of a government-backed campaign to raise awareness of the vehicles’ benefits.

The commercial-vehicle market, meanwhile, is on track to top 300,000 units for first time in five years. CV deliveries increased 22.7% in November to 28,057 units for an 11-month total up 10.9% to 294,991.

Van sales grew 19.4% in November to 22,647 units for a year-to-date result up 11.7% to 250,124. The small-truck segment saw even stronger demand, jumping 39.3% to 5,410 units and raising the year-to-date total 6.5% to 44,867.

Hawes says the CV segment’s November result continued the upward momentum seen over the past four months.

“With engine-technology developments driving up the truck market, plus van owners and operators responding positively to this year's economic recovery, the sector is on course for its best performance in five years,” he says.