New car sales reach boom years levels

NEW CARS: 10.6% up in 2014

Two numbers not seen since the boom years of 2005, the number of UK new cars sales rose 10.6%, providing 1,287,265 registrations, announces The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

In June alone 228,291 new cars (6.2%up) were registered, fuelling hope that the yearly total will be close to, or even exceed, 2.5million.

Rising by over 50%, reflecting the demand for efficiency, 23,337 alternatively-fuelled vehicle registrations have been made so far in 2014.

Mike Hawes, Chief Executive at SMMT, said: “Improving economic conditions have helped propel the UK new car market to a strong first half-year performance, with registrations up 10.6% on the same period in 2013.

“Key to attracting consumers is the ever-improving efficiency of new cars, an important factor that is highlighted by the 51.3% increase in alternatively-fuelled vehicle registrations so far this year.

“The overall market has risen faster than we were expecting but, after a bumper March, growth is showing signs of stabilising around our forecast level.”