U.K. Sales Top 2013 Mark With One Month to Go

U.K. new-car sales rose 8% year-on-year in November to 172,327 units, taking the 2014 total ahead of the 2013 full-year result with a month to go.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders says with deliveries up 9.4% after 11 months to 2,310,237 units, the market continues to exceed expectations amid still-rising consumer confidence.

It was the 33rd straight month of year-on-year sales increases.

“Six months after the record was broken for consecutive monthly growth in new-car registrations, the market continues to march on,” SMMT CEO Mike Hawes says in a statement.

“Today’s figures are an indication of the continuing economic confidence that is driving the new-car market, with business, fleet and private registrations all showing strong rises in the month. We expect a more stable market in 2015.”

Hawes says the SMMT welcomes government confirmation of £75 million ($117.4 million) to support ultra-low-emission vehicles in the U.K.

“Demand for ultra-low-emission vehicles is growing strongly, and we welcome the Chancellor (George Osborne’s) commitment to support the chargepoint network for electric vehicles, as well as ULEV R&D in the U.K.”

The Ford Fiesta was the November market leader with 7,660 units, ahead of the Volkswagen Golf (6,440), Vauxhall Corsa (4,832) and Ford Focus (4,813).

With only a month to go to year’s end, Fiesta has an unassailable lead in the U.K. market with 123,747 units. The Focus follows at 78,944, ahead of the Corsa with 73,709.

Ford continues to dominate the market even though November sales eased 8.9% to 19,159 units. Its year-to-date total was up 5.1% to 306,134 units.

Vauxhall saw sales drop 15.3% to 16,643 units in November, giving it an 11-month total up 3.3% to 246,015 units.

The Volkswagen brand followed with the month’s sales rising 22.4% to 16,196 units for a year-to-date total up 11.1% to 200,353 units.

Volkswagen Group marked the month with its all-time high group sales reaching 500,000 units.

The booming U.K. market has the Finance and Leasing Assn. reporting 14% year-on-year growth in consumer new-car finance volumes in October. The percentage of private new-car sales financed through dealerships by FLA members reached a record of 75.9% in the 12 months through October.

The SMMT says sales of new commercial vehicles grew 4.2% in November to 29,245 units for a year-to-date total up 13.1% to 333,728.

The gain again was fuelled by the van market, which rose 17.1% in November to 26,516 units, while truck deliveries fell 49.6% to 2,729.

Year-to-date van sales were up 18.0% to 295,197 units, while truck sales were off 14.0% to 38,571.